It is divided into two portions, the thoracic and abdominal, in correspondence with the two great cavities of the trunk in which it sits. Within the abdomen, the descending aorta branches into the two common iliac arteries that provide blood to the pelvis and, eventually, the legs. Learning Objectives Outline the divisions of the aorta. Key Points The blood is pumped from the left ventricle into the aorta and from there branches to all parts of the body.
The aorta is divided into three parts: the ascending aorta where the aorta initially leaves the heart and points toward the head , the arch of the aorta where the aorta changes direction , and the descending aorta where the aorta points toward the feet. The ascending aorta has two small branches, the left and right coronary arteries, that provide blood to the heart muscle.
The arch of the aorta has three branches: the brachiocephalic artery which divides into right common carotid artery and the right subclavian artery , the left common carotid artery, and the left subclavian artery. The abdominal aorta comes to an end just above the groin, where it splits into two arteries, one for each leg.
These are called the iliac arteries. The aorta is important because it gives the body access to the oxygen-rich blood it needs to survive. The head including the brain , neck and arms get oxygen from arteries that come off the aortic arch.
The stomach , intestines , kidneys and other vital organs get oxygen from arteries that come off the abdominal aorta. Your aorta can be damaged by high cholesterol and high blood pressure , so anything you do to keep those risk factors under control will also help you maintain a healthy aorta.
That includes eating a balanced diet , getting regular exercise and avoiding cigarettes. Call us now at or fill out our online form to get started today. Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Aortic Center Minimally invasive, maximally effective aortic care. The aortic root is the portion of the aorta that is attached to the heart. A major part of the aortic root is the aortic valve, which allows blood to flow from the heart to the rest of the body when it is open and prevents blood from flowing backwards into the heart when it is closed.
Like the rest of the body, the heart also needs to get blood. The left and right main coronary arteries branch off of the aortic root to provide the needed blood to the heart. The ascending aorta begins at the sinotubular junction of the aortic root and extends up and out from the heart until it connects with the aortic arch. The aortic arch is the portion of the aorta that is in the shape of an arch and connects the ascending aorta with the descending aorta.
The major arteries that stem from the arch are: the brachiocephalic artery, the left carotid artery and the left subclavian artery. The brachiocephalic artery is responsible for carrying blood to the right arm and the right side of the brain, the left carotid artery provides the left side of the brain with blood and the left subclavian artery carries blood to the left arm.
The descending aorta begins at the end of the aortic arch and continues down into the abdomen. There are two parts to the descending aorta. The thoracic aorta runs from the aortic arch to the diaphragm, which is the point of separation between the chest cavity and the abdominal cavity. It provides blood to the muscles of the chest wall and the spinal cord.
The abdominal aorta runs from the diaphragm and ends just above the pelvis, where it divides into the iliac arteries. There are five arteries that branch from the abdominal aorta: the celiac artery, the superior mesenteric artery, the inferior mesenteric artery, the renal arteries and the iliac arteries. The celiac artery provides blood to the stomach, liver and pancreas; the superior mesenteric artery supplies blood to the small intestine; the inferior mesenteric artery supplies blood to the large intestine; and the renal arteries provide blood to the kidneys as well as the muscles of the abdominal wall and the lower spinal cord.
The end of the abdominal aorta branches into the iliac arteries, which supply blood to the legs and the organs in the pelvis. Contact the Aortic Disease Center. Support the Center - Make a Gift.
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