Aorta

Dr. Faisal Iqbal

Blood Vessels
Arteries
Veins

[ thick walled, small lumen, high pressure ]

[ thin walled, wider lumen , low pressure ]

Capillaries -

[ one cell thick wall,smallest lumen,largest surface area ]

Arteries
Large size Arteries

Aorta, Carotids, Subclavian

Medium sized Arteries Coronary, Brachial, Facial

Arterioles

< 0.3mm

Aorta

Largest Artery
Diameter ~ 3.0 cm
Originates from Left Ventricle
Carries Oxygenated blood from the heart

Parts of Aorta
Ascending Aorta
Arch of Aorta
Descending Aorta
Thoracic
Abdominal

Course & Relations

Ascending aorta starts from left
ventricle becomes the arch of aorta

Arch of aorta arches over the root of

left lung, directed posteriorly and
continues downward as thoracic aorta.

Course & Relations

Thoracic aorta runs in the posterior
part of thorax on left of esophagus and
becomes abdominal aorta after passing
through the diaphragm at T12.
Abdominal Aorta terminates at L4 by
dividing into right & left common Iliac
arteries

Ascending Aorta

Right & Left Coronary arteries

Supplies the heart

Arch of Aorta
B r a c h i o c e p h a l i c Ar t e r y
Rt Common Carotid Artery
(head
n neck)
Rt Subclavian Artery (Rt arm)

Left Common Carotid Artery

External & Internal Carotids
and neck)

(head

Left S u b c l a v i a n Artery
Continues as axillary artery
arm)

(Left

Thoracic Aorta
Posterior Intercostal Arteries
9 intercostal arteries run in
intercostal space and supply the
chest wall

Bronchial, esophageal and

mediastinal branches
Supply lungs, esophagus and
other mediastinal structures

Subcostal Arteries
Runs under the 12th rib

Abdominal Aorta
Celiac (foregut)
Superior Mesenteric (midgut)
Inferior Mesenteric (hind gut)
Renal (kidneys)
Gonadal (Ovaries/Testis)

Abdominal Aorta
Termination (L4)
Right Common iliac Arteries
External iliac (leg)
Internal iliac (pelvis)

Left Common iliac Arteries

External iliac (leg)
Internal iliac (pelvis)

Vertebral Levels relating to Aorta

Ascending aorta ends

Arch of aorta begins
Thoracic aorta begins
Abdominal Aorta begins
Aorta Terminates

T4-T5
T4-T5
T4-T5
T12
L4

Revision

Parts of Aorta ?

Revision

Which artery Supplies the leg ?

Revision
Which artery Supplies head n neck ?

Revision
Branches of Arch of Aorta ???