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Anatomy of the Aorta

Image of the anatomy of the aorta

The aorta stems from the heart, arches upward, and then extends down behind the heart and through the chest (thorax) and the abdomen areas. The aorta then branches out and becomes the iliac arteries, which provide blood to the pelvis and legs.

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer David A. Szalay, MD - Vascular Surgery
Last Revised February 22, 2012

Last Revised: February 22, 2012

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & David A. Szalay, MD - Vascular Surgery

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