The main artery of the systemic circulation, the aorta, can be considered to have two parts:

• the thoracic aorta, which passes through the thorax or chest region, and
• the abdominal aorta, which passes through the abdomen.

The main branches of the thoracic aorta are:

• the carotid arteriesto the neck, head and brain
• the subclavian arteries(passing under the clavicle), each of which divides into a vertebral artery that supplies the brain stem, and a brachial artery that supplies the arm
• the coronary arteries which supply blood to the heart muscle.