Aorta by Dr. Karle Geetanjali

Aorta is the main artery of systemic circulation.
Aorta is divided into 4 parts - 1) Ascending aorta
2) Arch of aorta 3) Descending thoracic aorta 4) Abdominal aorta
1) Ascending aorta - branches - Right and Left coronary arteries . At the level of sternal angle it is continuous with arch of aorta.
2) Arch of aorta - branches - Brachiocephalic artery, Left common carotid artery, Left subclavian artery. Ligamentum arteriosus is attached to arch of aorta and pulmonary trunk. for details about ligamentum arteriosus please go through the video of fetal circulation

https://youtu.be/kBR6p7-GmaE

3) Descending thoracic aorta - is continuation of arch of aorta from the level of T4 vertebra. it descends downwards by giving branches - 9 pairs of Posterior intercostal arteries, esophageal artery, left bronchial artery, pericardial branches, superior thoracic artery.
4) Abdominal aorta - at the level of T12 vertebra thoracic aorta enters into abdomen through aortic opening of diaphragm. Abdominal aorta divides into its terminal branches Left and Right common iliac arteries at the level of L4 vertebra.

1. Aorta Dr Karle Geetanjali Professor, PMT’s Ayurved college, Shevgaon

2. Introduction- The aorta is the largest artery in the body . Diameter- an inch wide in diameter. It receives the cardiac output from the left ventricle and supplies the body with oxygenated blood via the systemic circulation.

3. Parts of aorta- The aorta can be divided into four sections: A scending aorta , A ortic arch , Thoracic (descending) aorta   Abdominal aorta.  It terminates at the level of L4 by bifurcating into the left and right common iliac arteries

4. Ascending Aorta - The ascending aorta arises from the  aortic orifice  from the left ventricle. Then it goes upward to become the aortic arch. Length- It is 2 inches long length travels with the pulmonary trunk in the pericardial sheath. Branches - The left and right aortic sinuses of the aortic valve give rise to the  left and right coronary arteries that supply the myocardium.

5. Branches of Arch of aorta -

6. Arch of aorta - The aortic arch is a continuation of the ascending aorta begins at the level of the sternal angle It arches superiorly, posteriorly and to the left before moving inferiorly. The aortic arch ends at the level of the T4 vertebra. The arch is connected to the pulmonary trunk by the  ligamentum arteriosus  (remnant of the fetal ductus arteriosus).

7. Branches- There are 3 major branches arising from the aortic arch. Proximal to distal or from left to the right- 1)Brachiocephalic trunk: ascends laterally to split into the right common carotid and right subclavian arteries. These arteries supply the right side of the head and neck, and the right upper limb. 2)Left common carotid artery:  Supplies the left side of the head and neck. 3)Left subclavian artery:  Supplies the left upper limb .

8. Descending thoracic aorta- The descending thoracic aorta starts from the level of T4 vertebra and ends at the level of T12 vertebra. It is continuation of arch of aorta. it initially begins to the left of the vertebral column but travels in the midline as it descends. It leaves the thorax via the  aortic hiatus  in the diaphragm, at level of T12 vertebra and continue as the abdominal aorta.

9. Branches of Thoracic Aorta -

10. Branches The 9 pairs of posterior intercostal arteries - supply the 3 rd to 11 th intercostal spaces Left bronchial artery (T he right branches off usually from the third posterior intercostal artery ) Oesophageal arteries:  Unpaired visceral branches arising anteriorly to supply the  oesophagus . Pericardial arteries:  Small unpaired arteries that arise anteriorly to supply the dorsal portion of the  pericardium . Superior phrenic arteries:  Paired parietal branches that supply the superior portion of the  diaphragm . The subcostal arteries supply the abdominal wall muscles.

11. Abdominal aorta - A t the level of the T12 vertebra the thoracic aorta passes from aortic hiatus of diaphragm and continue as the Abdominal aorta. It is approximately 13cm long E nds at the level of the L4 vertebra. At this level, the aorta terminates by bifurcating into the  right and left common iliac arteries  that supply the lower body.

12. Branches of abdominal aorta-

13. Branches of abdominal aorta- Branches can be classified as ventral, lateral, dorsal and terminal branches. 1. Ventral branches- 1. celiac trunk – supply to foregut 2. Superior mesenteric artery- supply to midgut 3. Inferior mesenteric artery – supply to hindgut

14. Lateral branches- 1 . Inferior phrenic - diaphragm 2.Middle suprarenal – suprarenal gland 3.Renal arteries – kidneys 4.Gonadal arteries - testicular/ ovarian arteries

15. Dorsal branches - 4 lumbar pairs 1 median sacral artery - unpaired

16. Terminal branches- Right and left common iliac arteries - terminal branches of aorta at the level of L4 vertebra.

17. Clinical anatomy- Atherosclerosis Aortic aneurism

18. Thank you!!! Specially thanks to Dr Kishor Pawar for diagrams of aorta.