- Ascending aorta
Infobox Artery
Name = PAGENAME
Latin = pars ascendens aortae, aorta ascendens
GraySubject = 142
Caption = Plan of the branches.
Caption2 = The arch of the aorta, and its branches.
BranchFrom =
BranchTo =aortic arch ,right coronary artery ,left coronary artery
Vein =
Supplies =
MeshName =
MeshNumber =
DorlandsPre = p_07
DorlandsSuf = 12616312
The ascending aorta is a portion of theaorta commencing at the upper part of the base of the left ventricle, on a level with the lower border of the third costal cartilage behind the left half of thesternum ; it passes obliquely upward, forward, and to the right, in the direction of the heart’s axis, as high as the upper border of the second rightcostal cartilage , describing a slight curve in its course, and being situated, about 6 cm behind the posterior surface of thesternum . The total length is about 5 cm in length.Components
The aortic root is the portion of the ascending aorta beginning at the aortic annulus and extending to the sinotubular junction. Between each commissure of the
aortic valve and opposite the cusps of the aortic valve, three small dilatations called theaortic sinuses .The sinotubular junction is the point in the ascending aorta where the aortic sinuses end and the aorta becomes a tubular structure.
Relations
At the union of the ascending aorta with the
aortic arch the caliber of the vessel is increased, owing to a bulging of its right wall.This dilatation is termed the bulb of the
aorta , and on transverse section presents a somewhat oval figure.The ascending aorta is contained within the
pericardium , and is enclosed in a tube of the serous pericardium, common to it and thepulmonary artery .Relations
The ascending aorta is covered at its commencement by the trunk of the
pulmonary artery and the rightauricula , and, higher up, is separated from the sternum by the pericardium, the right pleura, the anterior margin of the right lung, some loose areolar tissue, and the remains of the thymus; posteriorly, it rests upon the left atrium and right pulmonary artery.On the right side, it is in relation with the
superior vena cava andright atrium , the former lying partly behind it; on the left side, with the pulmonary artery.Branches
The only branches of the ascending aorta are the two coronary arteries which supply the heart; they arise near the commencement of the aorta immediately above the attached margins of the
semi lunar valves .
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