: The branchial apparatus consists of six arches that are separated from each other by branchial clefts and pharyngeal pouches. Its development is complex and multiple congenital defects can occur; including branchial cleft cysts, sinuses and fistulas, thymic cysts, aberrant thymic tissue and parathyroid cysts. The majority arises from the second branchial arch and they correspond to vestigial remnants from incomplete obliteration of the branchial apparatus or buried epithelial cell rests. Imaging studies are very helpful in the diagnosis and characterization of these anomalies, and require a good understanding of the embryogenesis. Considering the anatomical location and the radiological appearance the diagnosis could be precised in most cases. The purpose of this presentation is to show the appearance of some of the most frequent congenital anomalies of the branchial apparatus using different imaging modalities and emphasizing the normal embryologic development.