Ligamentum arteriosum

The ligamentum arteriosum (Latin: arterial ligament) is a small ligament that is the remnant of the ductus arteriosus formed within three weeks after birth.

Arterial bunch
The middle and posterior mediastina. Left side. (Lig. arteriosum labeled at upper right.)
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
Details
Fromleft pulmonary artery
Todescending aorta
Identifiers
LatinLigamentum arteriosum
TAA12.2.01.202
FMA13421
Anatomical terminology

At the superior end, the ligamentum attaches to the aorta—at the final part of the aortic arch (the isthmus of aorta) or the first part of the descending aorta.[1] On the other, inferior end, the ligamentum is attached to the top of the left pulmonary artery.[2]

The ligament is a vestige of the ductus arteriosus, a temporary fetal structure that shunts blood from the pulmonary arteries to the aorta, in order to avoid circulating blood through the lungs, which are inactive in the womb. The ductus arteriosus becomes the ligamentum arteriosum within three weeks of birth, so that deoxygenated blood can be selectively circulated to the lungs for more efficient oxygenation of the blood.

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 behind 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 abrupt motions, consequently potentially resulting in ruptured aorta.

See also

References
  1. Monvadi B. Srichai (2007). David P. Naidich; et al. (eds.). Computed tomography and magnetic resonance of the thorax (4th ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 100. ISBN 978-0-7817-5765-2.
  2. D. Cheitlin, Melvin; C. Ursell, Philip (2011). "Cardiac Anatomy". In Chatterjee, Kanu (ed.). Cardiology: An Illustrated Textbook. JP Medical Ltd. p. 6. ISBN 978-93-5025-275-8.
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