Anatomy of the aorta

Anatomy of the aorta

The aorta stems from the heart, arches upward (the aortic arch), and then extends down behind the heart and through the chest (the thoracic aorta) and the abdomen areas (the abdominal aorta). The aorta then branches out and becomes the iliac arteries, which provide blood to the pelvis and legs.

Current as of: December 19, 2022

Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine
Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine
David A. Szalay MD - Vascular Surgery
Elizabeth T. Russo MD - Internal Medicine