Aorta

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Right Coronary Artery
Left Coronary Artery
Brachiocephalic Artery
Common Carotid Artery
Subclavian Artery
Coeliac Artery
Superior Mesenteric Artery
Inferior Mesenteric Artery
Suprarenal Artery
Renal Artery
Gonadal Artery
Inferior Phrenic Artery
Lumbar Arteries
Common Iliac Artery
Median Sacral Artery
Aortic Dissection

Ascending Aorta

• begins at base of left ventricle
  • lies within fibrous pericardium
  • enclosed with pulmonary trunk in serous pericardium'
• three aortic sinuses
  • give rise to Left Coronary Artery, (left posterior aortic sinus)
  • Right Coronary Artery (anterior aortic sinus)
• runs upward and forward 
• lies behind right half of sternum at level of sternal angle

Arch of the Aorta

• lies behind manubrium sterni
• arches upward, backward and to left
  • in front of trachea
• gives Brachiocephalic Artery
• passes downward to left of trachea
• gives left common carotid artery
• gives left subclavian artery
• Terminates at T4/sternal angle

Descending Thoracic Aorta

• lies in posterior mediastinum
• starts at left side lower border T4 vertebra
• inclined forward and medially to reach anterior surface of vertebral column
• At T12 passes through aortic opening in midline
• Gives off
  • posterior intercostal arteries (lower 9)
  • subcostal arteries
  • pericardial
  • oesophageal
  • bronchial

Abdominal Aorta

• enters abdomen at T12 (aortic opening)
• descends behind peritoneum on surface of lumbar vertebra
• Terminates at bifurcation into common iliac arteries (L4)

• Relations

  • Right
    • inferior vena cava
    • cisterna chyli
    • beginnings of azygos vein
  • left
    • left sympathetic trunk

• Branches

  • anterior
    • coeliac artery
    • superior mesenteric
    • inferior mesenteric artery
  • lateral
    • suprarenal artery
    • renal artery
    • testiclar/ovarian artery
  • to abdominal wall
    • inferior phrenic artery
    • four lumbar arteries
  • terminal
    • common iliac arteries
    • median sacral

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