Morphology of aortic arch branching patterns in the Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra, Linnaeus, 1758)

In this study, we investigated the aortic arch (AA) branching pattern in the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra). We performed arterial silicone casting of the AA of 18 Eurasian otters (8 males and 10 females). We analyzed the AA branching pattern at three levels: the AA, brachiocephalic trunk (BCT), and subclavian artery (SB), using different classification methods at each level. We introduced new criteria for classifying the SB branching pattern applicable for Eurasian otter and other carnivores based on the sequence of the four main branches: vertebral artery (VT), internal thoracic artery (IT), costocervical artery (CCT), and superficial cervical artery (SC). In all Eurasian otters, two major branches emerged directly from the AA, i.e., the BCT and left SB. The BCT branched off the left common carotid artery and terminated in the right common carotid artery and right SB in 17 of 18 Eurasian otters; the BCT formed a bicarotid artery in the remaining case. The SBs showed various branching patterns, with the main branching pattern involving branching to the VT and IT at the same position, followed by the CCT and SC. The SB branching pattern in the Eurasian otter differed from that in dogs in that the two first branching arteries were VT and IT, rather than VT and CCT. Here, we present the anatomical characteristics of the AA branching patterns in the Eurasian otter and new analysis methods applicable for comparative studies of other carnivores.