Objective: To determine the percentage and type of human aortic arch and its variations in south Indian adult cadaveric hearts and their clinical, surgical and embryological importance. Material and methods: In our investigation, branching pattern of the aortic arch were studied in 110 formalin fixed south Indian adult cadaveric hearts of both sex aged 45 to 75 years. The types of variations and its percentages were observed in the aortic arches and its branches. Results: The usual three branched aortic arch was found in about 92.72% and five types of variations were found in the remaining. 4.5% had the left vertebral artery arising as branch of aortic arch between origins of left common carotid artery and left subclavian artery, 2.72% showed a common origin of brachiocephalic trunk and left common carotid artery, 0.90% presented with two branches arising from arch of aorta, 0.90% showed that brachiocephalic trunk giving rise to left common carotid artery and 1.8% presented the origin of left vertebral artery from aorta at the upper angle in the junction of the left subclavian artery. Conclusion: The wide spectrum of variations in the anatomical arrangement of human aortic arch and its branches offer valuable information to catheterize aortic arch and its branches for safely performing the endovascular surgery. This anatomical and morphologic variations in the arch of aorta and its branches are significant for diagnostic and surgical procedures in the thorax, head and neck regions.