Ligamentum arteriosum

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Ligament: Ligamentum arteriosum
Gray969.png
The middle and posterior mediastina. Left side. (Lig. arteriosum labeled at upper right.)
Dog heart 2.jpg
Heart of dog.
1. left ventricle
2. anterior interventricular sulcus
3. right ventricle
4. conus arteriosus
5. pulmonary artery
6. Ligamentum arteriosum
7. aortic arch
8. brachiocephalic artery
9. left subclavian artery
10. right auricle
11. left auricle
12. fat
13. pulmonary vein
Gray's subject #141 545
From pulmonary artery
To aortic trunk
Dorlands/Elsevier l_09/12491658

The ligamentum arteriosum (or arterial ligament) is a small ligament attached to the superior surface of the pulmonary trunk and the inferior surface of the aortic arch. It is a nonfunctional vestige of the ductus arteriosus, and is formed within three weeks of birth.

The ligamentum arteriosum is closely related to the left recurrent laryngeal nerve, a branch of the left vagus nerve. After splitting from the left vagus nerve, the left recurrent laryngeal loops around the aortic arch posterior to the ligamentum arteriosum, after which it ascends to the larynx.

This ligament also plays a role in major trauma; it fixes the aorta in place during rapid decelerations recoil, consequently potentially resulting in ruptured aorta.

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