Aorta

Dr. Faisal Iqbal

Blood Vessels

• Arteries - [ thick walled, small lumen, high pressure ]

• Veins - [ 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, barely visible

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 ra c h i o c e p h a l i c A r t e r y
• Rt Common Carotid Artery
(head n neck)
• Rt Subclavian Artery
(Rt arm)

• Left Common Carotid Artery

• External & Internal Carotids
(head and neck)

• Left S u b c l a v i a n Artery
• Continues as axillary artery
(Left arm)
 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 T4-T5

• Arch of aorta begins T4-T5
• Thoracic aorta begins T4-T5
• Abdominal Aorta begins T12
• Aorta Terminates L4
Revision

•Parts of Aorta ?
Revision

• Which artery Supplies the leg ?

Revision

• Which artery Supplies head n neck ?

Revision

• Branches of Arch of Aorta ???