Thorax

Dr. Gamal Taha, Lecturer of Anatomy

Aorta
Aorta

By the end of this session, you

should be able to:

Identify the Aorta

Recognize its different parts and

branches.
Aorta

The Aorta is the largest vessel present

in the human body.

It runs in 2 large territories of the body

distributing to its organs (Thorax and
Abdomen)

Aortic Root

The aortic root is the segment of the

aorta that is in direct continuity ith the
heart. It begins ith the aortic valve !
a complex structure that allos blood to
flo from the heart to the aorta hen
open but prevents it from moving
bac"ard (into the heart) hen closed.
Aorta

Aortic Root

#ust at its beginning there

are three aortic sinuses$
from hich coronary
arteries originated from the
anterior and left posterior
aortic sinus.
Aorta

Ascending Aorta

The ascending aorta is typically % cm long

and begins at the base of the left ventricle$
level ith the loer border of the &rd left
costal cartilage' it ascends obli(uely$
curving forards and to the right$ to the
level of the upper border of the 2nd right
costal cartilage
Aorta

Ascending Aorta: Relations

Anterior

)ulmonary trun".

Right Auricle.

Right lung and )leura.

Remnants of Thymus.

Posterior

Transverse *inus.

+eft atrium.

Right )ulmonary A.

Right ,ain -ronchus

.n the right side/ *01

.n the left side/ )ulmonary Trun"

Aorta

Aortic Arch

The aortic arch is a short but extremely

important segment of the aorta. It
resembles an arch and is located
beteen the ascending and descending
portions of the aorta in the superior
mediastinum.
Aorta

Aortic Arch

*tarts from the right 2nd costal cartilage and

runs upward, backward and to the left ending
at the left side of 2th thoracic vertebrae
belo the loer half of the manubrium.

It starts and ends at the same level/

Sternal Angle of Lewis
Aorta

Arch of Aorta: Relations

Anterior & left

+eft phrenic.

+eft vagus.

+eft superior intercostal 0.

1ardiac branches of left

vagus and left superior
cervical sympathetic ganglion.

+eft pleura and lung.

Posterior & right

Trachea.

3sophagus.

+eft recurrent
laryngeal nerve

Thoracic duct (lt.

margin of
esophagus).
Arch of Aorta (Relations)
Arch of Aorta (Relations)

Superiorly It has three a!or "ranches:

4. The #rachiocephalic Artery that carries blood to the right
arm and right side of the brain
2. The Left $oon $arotid Artery that carries blood to the
left side of the brain
&. The Left Su"cla%ian Artery that carries blood to the left
arm.
.
All crossed from left to right by
Lt #rachiocephalic &ein'
Arch of Aorta (Relations)

Inferiorly:
.
+eft main bronchus.
.
-ifurcation of the pulmonary trun" and beginning of the left
pulmonary artery.
.
+igamentum arterisoum.
.
+eft recurrent laryngeal nerve hoo"ing belo the arch of aorta and
ascending posterior to ligamentum arteriosum.
.
*uperficial cardiac plexus (anterior to ligamentum arteriosum).
#rachiocephalic
Artery
Left $oon
$arotid Artery
Left Su"cla%ian
Artery
Aorta

(escending Thoracic Aorta

The descending thoracic aorta continues from

the aortic arch and extends donard to the
diaphragm$ hich separates the chest cavity
from the abdominal cavity.

It hosts telve pairs of small intercostal arteries

that supply blood to the muscles of the chest all
and ! of significant importance ! to the spinal
cord.
Aorta

(escending Thoracic Aorta

It begins at the left side of loer border of T2 vertebra.

It descends in the posterior mediastinum on the left sides of

T%5 T42 vertebrae toards the median plane.

At the loer border of T42 vertebra it traverses the aortic

opening of the diaphragm and continues as the abdominal
aorta (in abdomen).
(escending Thoracic Aorta

(escending Aorta: Relations

Anterior

Root of the left lung.

)ericardium

3sophagus
(from T6 to T47 vertebrae).

8iaphragm.

Posterior

0ertebral column (loer 6

thoracic vertebrae).

Terminal parts of
hemiazygos 9 accessory
hemiazygos veins.
(escending Thoracic Aorta

Relations:

)n the right side: Its upper part is related to the

esophagus from T% to T: vertebrae.

Its loer part is related to thoracic duct and vena

azygos (from left to right) hich accompany it through
the aortic opening of the diaphragm.

)n the left side: +eft pleura and left lung.

Aorta

(escending Thoracic Aorta: #ranches

&isceral

)ericardial A.

-ronchial A.

3sophageal A.

,ediastinal A.

Parietal

)osterior Intercostal
A. from &rd to 44th
space.

*ubcostal A..

*uperior )hrenic A.

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