Where is aortic arch located

Blood is pumped from the left ventricle into the aorta and from there branches to all parts of the body. The aorta is an elastic artery, meaning it is able to distend. When the left ventricle contracts to force blood into the aorta, the aorta expands. This stretching generates the potential energy that helps maintain blood pressure during diastole, since during this time the aorta contracts passively.

Diagram of Human Heart : This diagram of the human heart shows all the major vessels, and arrows indicate the direction of flow through the heart. The aorta is divided into three parts: the ascending aorta, where the aorta initially leaves the heart and points superiorly toward the head; the arch of the aorta where the aorta changes direction; and the descending aorta where the aorta points inferiorly toward the feet.

Ascending Aorta : The aorta has three parts: the ascending, the arch and the descending. The ascending aorta has two small branches, the left and right coronary arteries. These arteries provide blood to the heart muscle, and their blockage is the cause myocardial infarctions or heart attacks. The arch of the aorta has three branches: the brachiocephalic artery, which itself divides into right common carotid artery and the right subclavian artery, the left common carotid artery, and the left subclavian artery.

These arteries provide blood to both arms and the head. The descending aorta is the largest artery in the body; it runs from the heart down the length of the chest and abdomen.

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. The ascending aorta is the first portion of the aorta; it includes the aortic sinuses, the bulb of the aorta, and the sinotubular junction. Its total length is about five centimeters. The aortic root is the portion of the ascending aorta beginning at the aortic annulus, the fibrous attachment between the heart and the aorta, and extending to the sinotubular junction.

Just above the aortic valve are three small dilations called the aortic sinuses. The two anterior sinuses give rise to the coronary arteries, while the third posterior sinus does not usually give rise to any vessels and so is known as the non-coronary sinus. The sinotubular junction is the point in the ascending aorta where the aortic sinuses end and the aorta becomes a tubular structure.

At the junction of the ascending aorta with the aortic arch, the caliber of the vessel increases with a bulging of its right wall. It is enclosed in a tube of the serous pericardium, which also encloses the pulmonary artery. The ascending aorta is covered at its beginning by the trunk of the pulmonary artery and, higher up, is separated from the sternum by the pericardium, the right pleura, the anterior margin of the right lung, some loose areolar tissue, and the remains of the thymus.

Posteriorly, it rests upon the left atrium and right pulmonary artery. The arch of the aorta follows the ascending aorta and begins at the level of the second sternocostal articulation of the right side. Aortic arch : This diagram shows the arch of the aorta and its branches. The arch of the aorta, or the transverse aortic arch, is continuous with the upper border of the ascending aorta and begins at the level of the upper border of the second sternocostal articulation of the right side.

The arch of the aorta runs at first upward, backward, and to the left in front of the trachea; it is then directed backward on the left side of the trachea and finally passes downward on the left side of the body of the fourth thoracic vertebra. At the lower border, this vertebra becomes continuous with the descending aorta. Three vessels come out of the aortic arch: the brachiocephalic artery, the left common carotid artery, and the left subclavian artery.

These vessels supply blood to the head, neck, thorax and upper limbs. The thoracic aorta is the section of the aorta that travels through the thoracic cavity to carry blood to the head, neck, thorax and arms. Thoracic aorta : The aorta, highlighted in red, includes the thoracic aorta, the section of the aorta which runs from the lower border of the fourth thoracic vertebra to the diaphragm. The thoracic aorta forms part of the descending aorta and is continuous with the aortic arch at its origin before becoming the abdominal aorta.

Contained within the posterior mediastinal cavity, it begins at the lower border of the fourth thoracic vertebra where it is continuous with the aortic arch, and ends in front of the lower border of the twelfth thoracic vertebra at the aortic hiatus in the diaphragm.

At its commencement, the thoracic aorta is situated on the left of the vertebral column; it approaches the median line as it descends, and at its termination lies directly in front of the column. The esophagus lies on the right side of the aorta for most of its length, but at the lower part of the thorax is placed in front of the aorta and close to the diaphragm, situated on its left side. As it descends in the thorax, the aorta gives off several paired branches.

In descending order these are the bronchial arteries, the mediastinal arteries, the esophageal arteries, the pericardial arteries, and the superior phrenic artery. The posterior intercostal arteries are branches that originate throughout the length of the posterior aspect of the thoracic aorta. The abdominal aorta is the largest artery in the abdominal cavity and supplies blood to most of the abdominal organs. Abdominal Aorta : The aorta, highlighted in red, includes the abdominal aorta which begins at the diaphragm and ends as it branches into the common iliac arteries.

The abdominal aorta is the largest artery in the abdominal cavity. As part of the descending aorta, it is a direct continuation of the thoracic aorta. It begins at the level of the diaphragm, crossing it via the aortic hiatus. This hole in the diaphragm that allows the passage of the great vessels at the vertebral level of T The abdominal aorta travels down the posterior wall of the abdomen, anterior to the vertebral column, following the curvature of the lumbar vertebrae.

The abdominal aorta runs parallel to the inferior vena cava, located just to the right of the abdominal aorta. The abdominal aorta lies slightly to the left of the midline of the body. It is covered anteriorly by the lesser omentum and stomach.

Posteriorly, it is separated from the lumbar vertebrae by the anterior longitudinal ligament and left lumbar veins. The abdominal aorta supplies blood to much of the abdominal cavity through numerous branches that become smaller in diameter as it descends. Terminally it branches into the paired common iliac arteries, which supply the pelvis and lower limbs.

The abdominal aorta divides into the major arteries of the leg: the femoral, popliteal, tibial, dorsal foot, plantar, and fibular arteries. Internal Iliac Artery : The division of the internal iliac artery into its posterior and anterior trunks. The pelvic cavity is largely supplied by the paired internal iliac arteries, formed when the common iliac artery divides the internal iliac artery at the vertebral level L5 descends inferiorly into the lesser pelvis.

The external iliac artery passes into the thigh, becoming the femoral artery. Gaillard, F. Aortic arch. Reference article, Radiopaedia. Vascular , Chest. URL of Article. On this page:. Bovine aortic arch variant in humans: clarification of a common misnomer. Related articles: Anatomy: Thoracic. Promoted articles advertising. Figure 2: mediastinum Gray's illustration Figure 2: mediastinum Gray's illustration.

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. Swelling Spinal fractures. Academic Health Center The University of Florida Academic Health Center - the most comprehensive academic health center in the Southeast - is dedicated to high-quality programs of education, research, patient care and public service.

Research Studies Learn about UF clinical research studies that are seeking volunteers. Proc Bayl Univ Med Cent. Cleveland Clinic. Aortic Dissection. Updated April 22, American Heart Association. Your Aorta: The Pulse of Life. Updated June 1, Zucker EJ. Syndromes with aortic involvement: pictorial review.

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