Aorta

The aorta is the main artery of the systemic circulation, carrying oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the body's tissues. It begins at the aortic valve and ascends as the ascending aorta, curves as the aortic arch, and continues as the descending aorta, which becomes the thoracic aorta and then the abdominal aorta as it passes through the diaphragm.

Major branches arise along its course: coronary arteries originate from the ascending aorta; from the arch arise the brachiocephalic trunk, left common carotid, and left subclavian arteries; the thoracic aorta gives off arteries to the chest wall and viscera, while the abdominal aorta gives off the celiac trunk, superior mesenteric, renal, and inferior mesenteric arteries, followed by the common iliac arteries.

Structurally, the aorta has a thick wall with a prominent tunica media rich in elastic fibers, which provides elasticity and recoil to maintain blood pressure during the cardiac cycle. This Windkessels function helps dampen pulsatile flow and ensure steady perfusion.

Pathologies include thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms, aortic dissection, and atherosclerotic disease; congenital conditions such as coarctation can affect the aorta. Risk factors include hypertension, smoking, and connective tissue disorders like Marfan syndrome. Diagnosis uses echocardiography, CT or MR angiography, and invasive aortography when needed.

Treatment ranges from medical management of risk factors to surgical or endovascular repair, such as open repair of aneurysms or endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).