ascending aorta

Examples of ascending aorta in the following topics:

• 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 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.
  • The sinotubular junction is the point in the ascending aorta where the aortic sinuses end and the aorta becomes a tubular structure.
  • The ascending aorta is contained within the pericardium.
  • The aorta has three parts: the ascending, the arch and the descending.

• 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.
  • 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.
  • The ascending aorta has two small branches, the left and right coronary arteries.
  • The aorta has three parts: the ascending, the arch and the descending.

• Arch of the Aorta

  • The arch of the aorta follows the ascending aorta and begins at the level of the second sternocostal articulation of the right side.
  • 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.
  • This diagram shows the arch of the aorta and its branches.

• Great Vessels of the Heart

  • When the left ventricle contracts to force blood through the aortic valve into the aorta, the aorta expands.
  • The five components of the aorta are:
  • The ascending aorta lies between the heart and the arch of aorta.
  • The descending aorta is  the section from the arch of aorta to the point where it divides into the common iliac arteries.
  • The thoracic aorta is  the part of the descending aorta above the diaphragm.

• Short-Term Neural Control

  • Vascular baroreceptors are found primarily in sinuses (small cavities) within the aorta and carotid arteries.
  • The aortic sinuses are found in the walls of the ascending aorta just superior to the aortic valve, whereas the carotid sinuses are located in the base of the internal carotid arteries.
  • Normally, blood flow into the aorta is the same as blood flow back into the right atrium.

• 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.
  • Sometimes, no heart problems are apparent until the weakening of the connective tissue in the ascending aorta causes an aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection; a surgical emergency.
  • A micrograph of an aorta with an obvious dissection.

• Abdominal Aorta

  • 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.
  • 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 aorta, highlighted in red, includes the abdominal aorta which begins at the diaphragm and ends as it branches into the common iliac 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.

• Development of the Urinary System

  • The urogenital system arises during the fourth week of development from urogenital ridges in the intermediate mesoderm on each side of the primitive aorta.
  • The kidneys develop in the pelvis and ascend during development to their adult anatomical location at T12-L3.

• Elastic Arteries

  • The pulmonary arteries, the aorta, and its branches together comprise the body's system of elastic arteries.
  • The aorta is so thick that it requires its own capillary network to supply it with sufficient oxygen and nutrients to function, the vasa vasorum.
  • When the left ventricle contracts to force blood into the aorta, the aorta expands.
  • This stretching generates the potential energy that will help maintain blood pressure during diastole, when the aorta contracts passively.
  • The aorta makes up most of the elastic arteries in the body.