Aorta

The aorta (generally pronounced "ay-orta") is the largest artery in the human body, originating from the left ventricle of the heart and bringing oxygenated blood to all parts of the body in the systemic circulation.

The course of the aorta

The aorta is usually divided into four segments/section Tortora, Gerard J: "Principles of Human Anatomy, seventh edition", pages 341, 367, 369. Harper Collins College Publishers, 1995 (ISBN 0-673-989075-3) Tortora, Gerard J & Sandra Reynolds Grabowski: "Principles of Anatomy and Physiology, eighth edition", page 634. Harper Collins College Publishers, 1996 (ISBN 0-673-99355-8) Hole, Jr., John W. & Karen A. Koos: "Human Anatomy, second edition", page 479. Wm. C. Brown Publishing, 1994 (ISBN 0-697-12252-2) De Graaff, Van: "Human Anatomy, fifth edition", pages 548-549. WCB McGraw-Hill, 1998 (ISBN 0-697-28413-1) :

Ascending aorta — the section between the heart and the arch of aorta
Arch of aorta — the peak part that looks like an arch
Descending aorta — the section between the arch of aorta to the point where it bifurcates into the common iliac arteries
- Thoracic aorta — the half of the descending aorta above the diaphragm
- Abdominal aorta — the half ot the descending aorta below the diaphragm

Features

The aorta is an elastic artery, and as such is quite distensible. When the left ventricle contracts to force blood into the aorta, the aorta expands. This stretching gives the potential energy that will help maintain blood pressure during diastole, as during this time the aorta contracts passively.

Diseases

Aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva
Aortic aneurysm
- Dissecting aortic aneurysm
Aortic coarctation
Marfan syndrome
inborn cardiovascular defects

In popular culture

One of the Twin Peaks baddie, Windom Earle's better known lines is "I haven't felt this excited since I punctured Caroline's aorta".

References

External links

- Descending aorta
- Abdominal aorta