Aberrant innominate artery

Synonym: retroesophageal innominate artery

Definition: A rare abnormality associated with right aortic arch comprising a sequence of arteries arising from the aortic arch—right carotid artery, right subclavian artery, and then (left innominate artery—with the last passing behind the esophagus. This is in contrast to the general rule that the first arch artery gives rise to the carotid artery contralateral to the side of the aortic arch (ie, right carotid artery in left aortic arch and left carotid artery in right aortic arch).