CAMRT Radiography Practice Exam

From which arteries do the right and left vertebral arteries originate?

1. Carotid arteries

2. Subclavian arteries

3. Aorta

4. Pulmonary arteries

The correct answer is: Subclavian arteries

The right and left vertebral arteries originate from the subclavian arteries. Each vertebral artery starts as a branch of its respective subclavian artery, which is located beneath the collarbone. The vertebral arteries then ascend through the transverse foramina of the cervical vertebrae and contribute to the posterior circulation of the brain by eventually merging to form the basilar artery. In this context, the other arteries listed do not provide the origin for the vertebral arteries. The carotid arteries are primarily responsible for supplying blood to the face and the anterior part of the brain. The aorta is the main artery from which all other systemic arteries branch, but it does not directly give rise to the vertebral arteries. The pulmonary arteries are involved in transporting deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs and do not play a role in supplying the vertebral system. Therefore, the subclavian arteries are indeed the correct source for the right and left vertebral arteries.