Aorta, ascending
Aorta, ascending: The ascending aorta is the first section of the aorta, the largest artery in the body. The ascending aorta starts from the left ventricle of the heart and extends to the arch (the bend) of the aorta.
The right and left coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle arise from the ascending aorta.
The ascending aorta is an arbitrary anatomic entity since the aorta is one continuous conduit that stems from the left ventricle of the heart to carry blood to most of the body. However, the ascending aorta is a hallowed and convenient division of the aorta.
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- Aorta, descending
Aorta, descending: The descending aorta is the part of the aorta, the largest artery in the body, that runs down through the chest and the abdomen. The descending aorta starts after the arch of the aorta and ends by splitting into two great arteries (the common iliac arteries) that go to the legs. The descending […]
- Aorta, thoracic
Aorta, thoracic: The thoracic aorta is a section of the aorta, the largest artery in the body, within the chest. Specifically, the thoracic aorta is that part of the aorta that starts after the arch of the aorta and runs down to the diaphragm, the great muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen. The […]
- Aortal
Aortal: Pertaining to the aorta, the largest artery in the body. Aortal is not often encountered (except in The New York Times crossword). The preferred term is aortic.
- Aortic
Aortic: Pertaining to the aorta, the largest artery in the body. “Aortic” is in common usage as, for example, in an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The term “aortal” has the same meaning but is rarely encountered (except in The New York Times crossword).
- Aortic aneurysm
Aortic aneurysm: An outpouching (a local widening) of the largest artery in the body, the aorta, involving that vessel in its course above the diaphragm (thoracic aortic aneurysm) or, more commonly, below the diaphragm (abdominal aortic aneurysm). The diagnosis of an aortic aneurysm can be straight forward or difficult. Around 1900 the eminent physician William […]