Final answer:
b) Subclavian artery
The blood vessel that crosses the sternum in a rising diagonal right to left, superior to the aortic arch, is the subclavian artery. It arises from the brachiocephalic artery or the aortic arch and supplies blood to various parts of the body.
Step-by-step explanation:
The blood vessel that crosses the sternum in a rising diagonal right to left, superior to the aortic arch, is the subclavian artery. The right subclavian artery arises from the brachiocephalic artery, while the left subclavian artery arises from the aortic arch. The subclavian artery gives rise to the internal thoracic, vertebral, and thyrocervical arteries, and supplies blood to the arms, chest, shoulders, back, and central nervous system.