Rintavaltimo

Rintavaltimo, in Finnish, refers to the thoracic aorta—the portion of the aorta that runs through the thoracic cavity. It extends from the end of the ascending aorta near the heart to the aortic hiatus of the diaphragm, where it becomes the abdominal aorta. The thoracic aorta includes the ascending aorta, the aortic arch, and the descending thoracic aorta.

In the ascending aorta, the aorta gives rise to the coronary arteries. The aortic arch gives three major branches: the brachiocephalic trunk, the left common carotid artery, and the left subclavian artery. The descending thoracic aorta supplies the thoracic wall and mediastinal structures via intercostal, bronchial, esophageal, and mediastinal branches, and continues to the diaphragm to become the abdominal aorta.

The thoracic aorta provides oxygenated blood to the organs and structures within the thorax, including the pericardium, esophagus, bronchi, lungs, and chest wall, through its direct branches and through smaller arteries that originate along its course.

Clinical significance: Diseases of the thoracic aorta include thoracic aortic aneurysm and acute aortic dissection. Dissections are classified as type A if they involve the ascending thoracic aorta and type B if they involve only the descending thoracic aorta. Risk factors include hypertension, connective tissue disorders such as Marfan syndrome, bicuspid aortic valve, and smoking. Diagnosis commonly uses imaging such as CT or MRI angiography, and treatment ranges from medical management to surgical repair or endovascular intervention, depending on size, growth, and symptoms.