Aorta
Channel: all the knowledge of the universe PRINCIPIA
Date: 2021-12-05

Aorta, by Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki?curid=2089 / CC BY SA 3.0

#Aorta
#Arteries_of_the_thorax
#Arteries_of_the_abdomen
#Cardiac_anatomy
The aorta （/eɪˈɔːrtə/ ay-OR-tə） is the main and largest artery in the human body, originating from the left ventricle of the heart and extending down to the abdomen, where it splits into two smaller arteries （the common iliac arteries）.
The aorta distributes oxygenated blood to all parts of the body through the systemic circulation.
Course of the aorta in the thorax （anterior view）, starting posterior to the main pulmonary artery, then anterior to the right pulmonary arteries, the trachea and the esophagus, then turning posteriorly to course dorsally to these structures.
In anatomical sources, the aorta is usually divided into sections.
One way of classifying a part of the aorta is by anatomical compartment, where the thoracic aorta （or thoracic portion of the aorta） runs from the heart to the diaphragm.
The aorta then continues downward as the abdominal aorta （or abdominal portion of the aorta） from the diaphragm to the aortic bifurcation.
Another system divides the aorta with respect to its course and the direction of blood flow.
In this system, the aorta starts as the ascending aorta, travels superiorly from the heart, and then makes a hairpin turn known as the aortic arch.
Following the aortic arch, the aorta then travels inferiorly as the descending aorta.
The descending aorta has two parts.
The aorta begins to descend in the thoracic cavity and is consequently known as the thoracic aorta.
After the aorta passes through the diaphragm, it is known as the abdominal aorta.
The aorta ends by dividing into two major blood vessels, the common iliac arteries and a smaller midline vessel, the median sacral artery.
Ascending aorta The ascending aorta begins at the opening of the aortic valve in the left ventricle of the heart.
It runs through a common pericardial sheath with the pulmonary trunk.
These two blood vessels twi...