Aorta
The aorta (/eɪˈɔːrtə/ ay-OR-tə; pl.: aortas or aortae) is the main and largest artery in the human body, originating from the left ventricle of the heart, branching upwards immediately after, and extending down to the abdomen, where it splits at the aortic bifurcation into two smaller arteries (the common iliac arteries). The aorta distributes oxygenated blood to all parts of the body through the systemic circulation.[1]
For the American band, see Aorta (band).Aorta
Truncus arteriosus, fourth left branchial artery, paired dorsal aortae (combine into the single descending aorta)
Ascending aorta:
Arch of aorta (supra-aortic vessels):
Descending aorta, thoracic part:
- Left bronchial arteries
- Esophageal arteries to the thoracic part of the esophagus
- Third to eleventh posterior intercostal arteries and the subcostal arteries
Descending aorta, abdominal part:
- Parietal branches:
- Inferior phrenic arteries
- Lumbar arteries
- Median sacral artery
- Visceral branches:
- Celiac trunk
- Middle suprarenal arteries
- Superior mesenteric artery
- Renal arteries
- Gonadal arteries (testicular in males, ovarian in females)
- Inferior mesenteric artery
Terminal branches:
Combination of coronary sinus, superior vena cava and inferior vena cava
The systemic circulation
(entire body with exception of the respiratory zone of the lung which is supplied by the pulmonary circulation)
aorta, arteria maxima
Central aortic blood pressure has frequently been shown to have greater prognostic value and to show a more accurate response to antihypertensive drugs than has peripheral blood pressure.[18][19][20]
Other animals[edit]
All amniotes have a broadly similar arrangement to that of humans, albeit with a number of individual variations. In fish, however, there are two separate vessels referred to as aortas. The ventral aorta carries de-oxygenated blood from the heart to the gills; part of this vessel forms the ascending aorta in tetrapods (the remainder forms the pulmonary artery). A second, dorsal aorta carries oxygenated blood from the gills to the rest of the body and is homologous with the descending aorta of tetrapods. The two aortas are connected by a number of vessels, one passing through each of the gills. Amphibians also retain the fifth connecting vessel, so that the aorta has two parallel arches.[23]
History[edit]
The word aorta stems from the Late Latin aorta from Classical Greek aortē (ἀορτή), from aeirō, "I lift, raise" (ἀείρω)[24] This term was first applied by Aristotle when describing the aorta and describes accurately how it seems to be "suspended" above the heart.[25]
The function of the aorta is documented in the Talmud, where it is noted as one of three major vessels entering or leaving the heart, and where perforation is linked to death.[26]
