Heart

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Aortic Arch Arteries

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Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Embryonic Index: Hrt.AAA.VSMCs

Vascular smooth muscle cells that arise from neural crest cells, form multiple concentric layers around the endothelial layer of the aortic arch artery derivatives and the distal continuations of the great arteries. The most proximal walls of the aorta and pulmonary trunks are not covered by neural crest-derived tunics. The resulting gap is filled by cells from the secondary heart field (SHF). The smooth muscle contributed by SHF cells provides the tunica media, at the base of the aorta, and the pulmonary trunk, at the aortic and pulmonary sinuses.