2. • Aorta is the largest blood vessel of the
body which carries the oxygenated blood
from the left ventricle and supplies it to all
the parts of the body.
• It’s more than 1 foot long and an inch in
diameter at its widest point. As the aorta
makes its way toward your pelvis, its
diameter narrows to two centimeters.
• The aorta initially is one inch wide in
diameter
• The aorta is classified as a large elastic
artery.
2
3. The aorta has many sections, including the:
•Aortic root: Section that attaches to the heart.
This is the widest part of the aorta.
•Aortic valve: Three flaps of tissue (leaflets)
that snap open and shut to release oxygen-
blood from the heart.
•Ascending aorta: Upward curve that occurs
shortly after the aorta leaves the heart.
•Aortic arch: Curved segment that gives the
aorta its cane-like shape. It bridges the
ascending and descending aorta.
•Descending aorta: Long, straight segment that
runs from your chest (thoracic aorta) to your
abdominal area (abdominal aorta).
4.
5. ASCENDING AORTA ORIGIN AND COURSE
• A. Ascending aorta originates from the upper end of the left ventricle
(i.e., aortic vestibule) and continues as an arch of aorta at the sternal angle.
• B. It is about 5 cm long and its diameter is about 3 cm. It is completely
enclosed in the pericardium. •
C. Lies inside the pericardium(in the middle mediastinum) below the level
of sternal angle. – It begins at the level of the lower border of left 3rd costal
cartilage, runs upwards, forwards and to the right to continue as the arch
of aorta at the level of sternal angle.
6. Aortic bulb is a bulge in the right wall of the
ascending aorta at its union with all the arch of the
aorta
• Branches:
• The left and right aortic sinuses are dilations in the
ascending aorta, located at the level of the aortic
valve. These give rise to:
• The left coronary artery
• The right coronary artery
– These supply the myocardium.
Ascending Aorta
7.
8. • Its location is in the superior mediastinum.
• The aortic arch is a continuation of the ascending aorta and begins at the level of
the second sternocostal joint.
• It arches superiorly, posteriorly and to the left before moving inferiorly.
• The aortic arch ends at the level of the T4 vertebra i.e. at level of sternal angle. •
The arch is still connected to the pulmonary trunk by the ligamentum arteriosum.
– Remnant of the foetal ductus arteriosus
Aortic arch branches:
•Brachiocephalic trunk, which branches into the right subclavian artery (supplies
the right arm) and right carotid artery (supplies the brain and right side of the
head and neck).
•Left subclavian artery supplies your left arm and the back of your brain.
•Left carotid artery supplies your brain and the left side of the head and neck.
Aortic Arch
9. • The descending aorta is the section of the thoracic aorta which is
contained in the posterior mediastinum.
• It originates leveled along with the lower boundary of the T4 vertebra,
consistent with the aortic arch, and also terminates anterior to the lower
boundary of the T12 vertebra within the aortic hiatus.
• it initially begins to the left of the vertebral column but approaches the
midline as it descends. It leaves the thorax via the aortic hiatus in the
diaphragm, and becomes the abdominal aorta
DESCENDING AORTA
• The descending aorta is the longest part of aorta, which is the
largest artery in body.
• It carries oxygen-rich blood from your heart through your chest and
abdomen (belly).
• It also branches off into smaller arteries in many places to supply blood
to other parts of your body.
