Brachiocephalic Artery/Vein

The brachiocephalic artery supplies blood to the tissues of the brain and the head. It is the first branch of the aortic arch and rises up to a point near the junction of the sternum (breast bone) and the right clavicle (collarbone). At this point, it divides, giving rise to the "common carotid artery," which carries blood to the right side of the neck and head, and the right "subclavian artery," which leads to the right arm. Branches of the subclavian artery supply blood to parts of the shoulder, neck and head. The brachiocephalic vein takes blood from these sites back to the heart from the subclavian vein.