Abdominal aorta
The abdominal aorta (plural: aortas or aortae 4) is the main blood vessel in the abdominal cavity that transmits oxygenated blood from the thoracic cavity to the organs within the abdomen and to the lower limbs.
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Summary
- origin: continuation of descending thoracic aorta at T12
- course: descends anterior and slightly to the left of the lumbar vertebral bodies
-
branches (unpaired)
- celiac artery (T12)
- superior mesenteric artery (L1)
- inferior mesenteric artery (L3)
- median sacral artery
- middle adrenal arteries
- renal arteries (L1-L2)
- gonadal arteries (between L2 and L3)
- inferior phrenic arteries
- lumbar arteries
- termination: bifurcates into right and left common iliac arteries at L4
-
key relationships
- posterior to the median arcuate ligament between two crura of diaphragm
- anterior and slightly to the left of the lumbar vertebral bodies
- IVC is on its right
- crossed anteriorly by the splenic vein and body of pancreas between the celiac and superior mesenteric artery origins
- crossed anteriorly by the left renal vein, uncinate process of the pancreas and 3rd part of the duodenum between the superior mesenteric and inferior mesenteric artery origins
Gross anatomy
Origin
It is a continuation of descending thoracic aorta at T12 posterior to the median arcuate ligament and diaphragmatic crura.
Course
It descends caudally in the retroperitoneum, anterior and slightly to the left of the lumbar vertebral bodies. The IVC lies to its right.
Between the celiac and superior mesenteric artery origins, it is crossed anteriorly by the splenic vein and body of the pancreas and between the superior mesenteric and inferior mesenteric artery origins, it is crossed anteriorly by the left renal vein, uncinate process of the pancreas and 3rd part of the duodenum.
Termination
It eventually terminates at the L4 level by bifurcating into right and left common iliac arteries. This is also where the origin of median sacral artery is, which descends along the middle of sacral promontory.
Branches
Branches of the abdominal aorta can be thought of as belonging to a number of groups.
Single ventral branches (to the gut and related viscera)
- celiac artery (T12)
- superior mesenteric artery (L1)
- inferior mesenteric artery (L3)
Paired branches to other viscera
- middle adrenal arteries
- renal arteries (L2)
- gonadal arteries (between L2 and L3)
Paired branches to abdominal wall
- inferior phrenic arteries
- four paired lumbar arteries
Single parietal branches
Variant anatomy
- variable level of bifurcation
- right-sided aorta
- celiacomesenteric trunk
- sinuous course
- accessory renal artery
- direct branches (e.g. splenic, hepatic, accessory hepatic, accessory SMA, internal iliac)
Related pathology
- abdominal aortic aneurysm
- abdominal aortic stenosis/occlusion: atherosclerosis, aortitis, Leriche syndrome
Related Radiopaedia articles
Anatomy: Abdominopelvic
- skeleton of the abdomen and pelvis
- muscles of the abdomen and pelvis
- spaces of the abdomen and pelvis
- anterior abdominal wall
- posterior abdominal wall
- abdominal cavity
- pelvic cavity
- perineum
- abdominal and pelvic viscera
- gastrointestinal tract
- spleen
- hepatobiliary system
-
endocrine system
-
adrenal gland
- adrenal vessels
- chromaffin cells
- variants
- pancreas
- organs of Zuckerkandl
-
adrenal gland
-
urinary system
-
kidney
- renal pelvis
- renal sinus
- avascular plane of Brodel
-
variants
- number
- fusion
- location
- shape
- ureter
- urinary bladder
- urethra
- embryology
-
kidney
- male reproductive system
-
female reproductive system
- vulva
- vagina
- uterus
- Fallopian tubes
- ovaries
- broad ligament (mnemonic)
- variant anatomy
- embryology
- blood supply of the abdomen and pelvis
- arteries
-
abdominal aorta
- inferior phrenic artery
- celiac artery
- superior mesenteric artery
- middle suprarenal artery
- renal artery (variant anatomy)
- gonadal artery (ovarian artery | testicular artery)
- inferior mesenteric artery
- lumbar arteries
- median sacral artery
-
common iliac artery
- external iliac artery
-
internal iliac artery (mnemonic)
- anterior division
- posterior division (mnemonic)
- variant anatomy
-
abdominal aorta
- portal venous system
- veins
- anastomoses
- arterioarterial anastomoses
- portal-systemic venous collateral pathways
- watershed areas
- arteries
- lymphatics
- innervation of the abdomen and pelvis
- lumbar plexus
-
sacral plexus
- lumbosacral trunk
- sciatic nerve
- superior gluteal nerve
- inferior gluteal nerve
- nerve to piriformis
- perforating cutaneous nerve
- posterior femoral cutaneous nerve
- parasympathetic pelvic splanchnic nerves
- pudendal nerve
- nerve to quadratus femoris and inferior gemellus muscles
- nerve to internal obturator and superior gemellus muscles