What is the aorta and what does it do?

What is the aorta and what does it do?

The aorta is the main artery that carries blood away from your heart to the rest of your body. The blood leaves the heart through the aortic valve. Then it travels through the aorta, making a cane-shaped curve that allows other major arteries to deliver oxygen-rich blood to the brain, muscles and other cells.

What happens in the body when an aortic dissection occurs?

An aortic dissection is a serious condition in which the inner layer of the aorta, the large blood vessel branching off the heart, tears. Blood surges through the tear, causing the inner and middle layers of the aorta to separate (dissect).

What happens when your aorta ruptures?

If the aorta bursts, it can cause serious bleeding that can quickly lead to death. Aneurysms can form in any section of the aorta, but they are most common in the belly area (abdominal aortic aneurysm). They can also happen in the upper body (thoracic aortic aneurysm).

What are some facts about the aorta?

The aorta is the largest artery in the body. The aorta begins at the top of the left ventricle, the heart’s muscular pumping chamber. The heart pumps blood from the left ventricle into the aorta through the aortic valve.

Can you survive an aortic rupture?

Aortic dissection is life threatening. The condition can be managed with surgery if it is done before the aorta ruptures. Less than one half of people with a ruptured aorta survive. Those who survive will need lifelong, aggressive treatment of high blood pressure.

How is aorta surgery done?

Open surgery involves making a large incision in the chest or abdomen (belly). Your doctor removes the weakened part of your aorta and replaces it with a synthetic graft. Your doctor might also cut open the aneurysm and place the graft inside.

What does a ruptured aorta feel like?

Signs and symptoms that your aortic aneurysm has ruptured can include: Sudden, intense and persistent abdominal or back pain, which can be described as a tearing sensation. Low blood pressure. Fast pulse.

What should you not do with an aortic aneurysm?

DON’T:

• Push, pull, bear down or lift anything heavier than 30 pounds (or 10 pounds for patients recovering from surgery).
• Get a tattoo or body piercing.
• Smoke (or be exposed to secondhand smoke) or use any other tobacco products.
• Shovel snow, chop wood, dig earth or use a sledgehammer or snow blower.
• Take illicit drugs.

What comes out of the aorta?

The heart itself gets oxygen from arteries that come off the ascending aorta. The head (including the brain), neck and arms get oxygen from arteries that come off the aortic arch. The stomach, intestines, kidneys and other vital organs get oxygen from arteries that come off the abdominal aorta.

What happens when the aorta ruptures?

What does the aorta do for the heart?

The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body. This artery is responsible for transporting oxygen rich blood from your heart to the rest of your body. The aorta begins at the left ventricle of the heart, extending upward into the chest to form an arch.

Where is the aorta located in the abdomen?

Relations. The abdominal aorta lies slightly to the left of the midline of the body. It is covered, anteriorly, by the lesser omentum and stomach, behind which are the branches of the celiac artery and the celiac plexus; below these, by the lienal vein (splenic vein), the pancreas, the left renal vein, the inferior part of the duodenum ,…

What is normal aorta?

Normal Aortic Anatomy. The ascending aorta extends from the root to the origin of the right brachiocephalic artery. the average diameter of the adult ascending aorta is 3.5 cm (range 2.2 to 4.7 cm). [4,5] The aortic arch begins at the origin of the right brachiocephalic artery and ends at the attachment of the ligamentum arteriosum.

What is the function of the aorta in the heart?

The function of the aorta is to pump this brand-new oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle of the heart, where the oxygenated blood is transferred, and circulate it back into the body. The shape of the aorta helps with blood circulation.

What is the function of the aortic artery?

The aorta is the largest artery in the body. It is connected to the left ventricle of the heart and has the job of carrying oxygenated blood from the heart to other parts of the body.