Aorta
This section is about
Structures of the Heart
The aorta is the main artery that carries blood away from the heart. Blood is pumped from the left ventricle of the heart (via the aortic valve) into the aorta.
After ascending (passing upwards) for a short distance, the aorta arches backward and to the left side. It then passes over the root of the left lung before progressing downwards within the thorax on the left side of the vertebral column. Then it passes into the abdominal cavity, through the aortic hiatus in the diaphragm, and terminates opposite the lower border of the fourth lumbar vertebra where it divides into the right and left common iliac arteries.
To view a diagram showing the position of major veins and arteries, see Systemic Circulation.
More about the heart and blood circulation:
See the following for more about the heart, blood, blood circulation, disorders of the blood circulation system, and related topics.
- The Structure of the Heart
- The Functions of the Heart
- Systemic Circulation (i.e. blood flow around the body beyond the heart and lungs)
- Pulmonary Circulation (i.e. blood flow through the heart and lungs)
- Heart Conditions, heart problems and disorders, both chronic and acute
- Heart Disease Risk Factors, avoidable and unavoidable
- Discoveries about the circulatory system and how it works
- Books about heart disease.
