thoracic aorta

aorta /aor·ta/ (a-or´tah) pl. aor´tae, aortas   [L.] the great artery arising from the left ventricle, being the main trunk from which the systemic arterial system proceeds.aor´tic

Aorta, arising from the left ventricle, ascending, arching, then descending through the thorax to the abdomen, where it divides into the common iliac arteries.

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abdominal aorta  the distal part of the descending aorta, below the diaphragm; it is continuous with the thoracic aorta.

overriding aorta  a congenital anomaly occurring in tetralogy of Fallot, in which the aorta is displaced to the right so that it appears to arise from both ventricles and straddles the ventricular septal defect.

thoracic aorta  the proximal portion of the descending aorta; it is continuous with the abdominal aorta.

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thoracic aorta

Etymology: Gk, thorax, chest, aerein, to raise

the large upper part of the ascending arch and descending aorta, supplying many parts of the body, such as the heart, ribs, chest muscles, and stomach. Its branches include the coronary brachiocephalic, left common carotid artery, left subclavian, pericardial, bronchial, esophageal, mediastinal, posterior intercostal, subcostal, and superior phrenic. See also descending aorta. Compare abdominal aorta.

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aorta

pl. aortae, aortas [L.] the great artery arising from the left ventricle, being the main trunk from which the systemic arterial system proceeds. See Table 9. See also aortic.

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abdominal aorta

the part of the descending aorta within the abdomen.

ascending aorta

the first part of the aorta which passes dorsally and cranially.

descending aorta

the aorta after it turns caudally at the aortic arch.

overriding aorta

see overriding aorta.

supravalvular aorta

the portion of aorta immediately above the aortic valve.

terminal aorta

the segment of the aorta immediately before it divides into the iliac arteries.

thoracic aorta

the part of the descending aorta within the thorax.