aorta
Sign in to saveThe aorta ( ; : 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.
AI overview
The aorta is the largest artery in your body, starting from your heart and branching throughout your torso before splitting into smaller arteries in your abdomen. It carries oxygen-rich blood from your heart to every part of your body, making it essential for delivering the oxygen your tissues need to survive.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Artery.Name
- Aorta
- Artery.Latin
- aorta, arteria maxima
- Artery.Image
- Aorta segments.svg
- Artery.Caption
- Schematic view of the aorta and its segments
- Artery.Image2
- Aorta branches.svg
- Artery.Caption2
- Branches of the aorta
- Artery.BranchFrom
- Left ventricle
- Artery.BranchTo
- Ascending aorta: Right and left coronary arteries Arch of aorta (supra-aortic vessels): Brachiocephalic trunk Left common carotid artery Left subclavian artery 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: Common iliac arteries Median sacral artery
- Artery.Vein
- Combination of coronary sinus, superior vena cava and inferior vena cava
Article
16 sectionsContents
- Structure
- Sections
- Ascending aorta
- Aortic arch
- Thoracic aorta
- Abdominal aorta
- Development
- Microanatomy
- Variation
- Function
- Blood flow and velocity
- Significance
- Other animals
- History
- References
- External links
The aorta ( ; : 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.
==Structure==