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.

ByHealthwise Staff

Primary Medical ReviewerE. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine

Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine

Specialist Medical ReviewerElizabeth T. Russo, MD - Internal Medicine

Current as ofMarch 20, 2017

Current as of: March 20, 2017

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Elizabeth T. Russo, MD - Internal Medicine