The (generally pronounced
or "ay-orta") is the largest
Artery in the
Human Body , originating from the
Left Ventricle of the
Heart and bringing oxygenated blood to all parts of the body in the
Systemic Circulation .
The aorta is usually divided into five segments/sections Tortora, Gerard J: "Principles of Human W. & Karen A. Koos: ''Human Anatomy, second edition'', page 479. Wm. C. Brown Publishing, 1994 (ISBN 0-697-12252-2) De Graaff, Van: "Human Anatomy, fifth edition", pages 548-549. WCB McGraw-Hill, 1998 (ISBN 0-697-28413-1) :
The aorta is an elastic artery, and as such is quite distensible. When the left ventricle contracts to force blood into the aorta, the aorta expands. This stretching gives the potential energy that will help maintain blood pressure during
Diastole , as during this time the aorta contracts passively.
- - Descending aorta
- - Abdominal aorta
