aorta n : the large trunk artery that carries blood from the left ventricle of the heart to branch arteries [also: aortae (pl)]

English

Pronunciation

• italbrac RP /eɪˈɔːtə/
• italbrac US /eɪˈɔːrtə/

Noun

1. The great artery which carries the blood from the heart to all parts of the body except the lungs; the main trunk of the arterial system.
2. (figurative) The liveliest part of something.

   Tracing their battles, I had many occasions to walk along Second Avenue, the aorta of the Lower East Side, exploring places that were once as vibrant and tumultuous as Midtown Manhattan. http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/01/26/travel/escapes/26yiddish.html?8dpc

Translations

great artery

• Croatian: aorta
• Czech: srdečnice
• Finnish: aortta
• French: aorte
• Greek: αορτή (aortí)
• Polish: aorta
• Russian: аорта (aórta)
• Swedish: aorta

Derived terms

• aortal
• aortic

See also

• circulatory system

Croatian

Noun

hr-noun f

1. aorta

Italian

Noun

1. aorta

Derived terms

• aortico

Swedish

Noun

aorta

1. Aorta

The aorta (pronounced "ay-OR-tuh") 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 seven segments/sections :

• Ascending aorta—the section between the heart and the arch of aorta
• Arch of aorta—the peak part that looks somewhat like an inverted "U"
• Descending aorta—the section from the arch of aorta to the point where it divides into the common iliac arteries
  • Thoracic aorta—the half of the descending aorta above the diaphragm
  • Abdominal aorta—the half of the descending aorta below the diaphragm

Features

The aorta is a hard 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/pathology

• Aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva
• Aortic aneurysm - myotic, bacterial (e.g. syphilis), senile, genetic, associated with valvular heart disease
  • Dissecting aortic aneurysm
• Aortic coarctation - pre-ductal, post-ductal
• Atherosclerosis
• Marfan syndrome
• Aortic stenosis
• Trauma, such as traumatic aortic rupture, most often thoracic and distal to the left subclavian artery and frequently quickly fatal

References

External links

• - Descending aorta
• - Abdominal aorta