abdominal aorta

Examples of abdominal aorta in the following topics:

• Abdominal Aorta

  • The abdominal aorta is the largest artery in the abdominal cavity and supplies blood to most of the abdominal organs.
  • The abdominal aorta is the largest artery in the abdominal cavity.
  • 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.
  • The abdominal aorta supplies blood to much of the abdominal cavity through numerous branches that become smaller in diameter as it descends.

• Arteries of 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.

• Great Vessels of the Heart

  • The inferior vena cava begins posterior to the abdominal cavity and travels to the heart next to the abdominal aorta.
  • The ascending aorta lies between the heart and the arch of aorta.
  • It is subdivided into the thoracic and abdominal aorta.
  • The thoracic aorta is  the part of the descending aorta above the diaphragm.
  • The abdominal aorta is the part of the descending aorta below the diaphragm, which divides into the iliac arteries and branches into the renal and suprarenal arteries.

• Thoracic Aorta

  • 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.
  • The thoracic aorta forms part of the descending aorta and is continuous with the aortic arch at its origin before becoming the abdominal aorta.
  • 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.
  • 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.

• Supply of Blood and Nerves to the Kidneys

  • The renal arteries branch off of the abdominal aorta and supply the kidneys with blood.
  • Due to the position of the aorta, the inferior vena cava, and the kidneys in the body, the right renal artery is normally longer than the left renal artery.
  • Renal blood supply starts with the branching of the aorta into the renal arteries (which are each named based on the region of the kidney they pass through) and ends with the exiting of the renal veins to join the inferior vena cava.
  • The renal arteries branch off of the abdominal aorta and supply the kidneys with blood.

• Autonomic Plexuses

  • The autonomic plexuses include the cardiac plexus, the pulmonary plexus, the esophageal plexus, and abdominal aortic plexus, and the superior and inferior hypogastric plexuses.
  • The superficial part of the cardiac plexus lies beneath the arch of the aorta, in front of the right pulmonary artery.
  • The abdominal aortic plexus is formed by branches derived, on either side, from the celiac plexus and ganglia, and receives filaments from some of the lumbar ganglia.
  • It is situated on the sides and front of the aorta, between the origins of the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries.
  • The superior hypogastric plexus (in older texts, hypogastric plexus or presacral nerve) is a plexus of nerves situated on the vertebral bodies below the bifurcation of the abdominal aorta.

• The Aorta and Its Branches

  • The aorta is the largest artery in the body and is divided into 3 parts: the ascending aorta, arch of the aorta, and descending aorta.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • It is divided into two portions, the thoracic and abdominal, in correspondence with the two great cavities of the trunk in which it sits.

• Marfan Syndrome

  • Marfan syndrome is a disease of the connective tissue causing weakening of the heart valves, aorta, joints, and eyes.
  • The most serious complications are defects of the heart valves and aorta.
  • The most serious symptom of Marfan's is a dilated aorta or an aortic aneurysm.
  • Symptoms that can occur are lower back pain, leg pain, abdominal pain, other neurological symptoms in the lower extremities, or headaches.
  • A micrograph of an aorta with an obvious dissection.

• Location and External Anatomy of the Kidneys

  • The kidneys are located at the rear wall of the abdominal cavity and they are protected by the ribcage.
  • The asymmetry within the abdominal cavity caused by the liver typically results in the right kidney being slightly lower than the left, and left kidney being located slightly more medial than the right.
  • The kidneys are located at the rear wall of the abdominal cavity just above the waistline and are protected by the ribcage.
  • They are considered retroperitoneal, which means that they lie behind the peritoneum, the membrane lining of the abdominal cavity.
  • The renal artery branches off from the lower part of the aorta and provides the blood supply to the kidneys.

• Ascending Aorta

  • The ascending aorta is the first portion of the aorta; it includes the aortic sinuses, the bulb of the aorta, and the sinotubular junction.
  • The sinotubular junction is the point in the ascending aorta where the aortic sinuses end and the aorta becomes a tubular structure.
  • This dilatation is termed the "bulb of the aorta."
  • The ascending aorta is contained within the pericardium.
  • The aorta has three parts: the ascending, the arch and the descending.