Thoracic aorta
Last revised by Francis Deng ◉ on 17 Nov 2019
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Jones J, Deng F, Carroll D, et al. Thoracic aorta. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 04 Jun 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-2168
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2168
Article created:
2 May 2008, Jeremy Jones ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Jeremy Jones had no recorded disclosures.
View Jeremy Jones's current disclosuresLast revised:
17 Nov 2019, Francis Deng ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Francis Deng had no recorded disclosures.
View Francis Deng's current disclosuresRevisions:
24 times, by 10 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures
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The thoracic aorta is the most superior division of the aorta and is divided into three sections:
The thoracic aorta begins at the aortic valve, located obliquely just to the left of the midline at the level of the third intercostal space. It terminates as it exits the thorax to enter the abdomen through the median arcuate ligament between the diaphragmatic crurae anterior to the T12 vertebral body.
It supplies blood to the chest, upper limbs, head and neck.
Typical measurements for adults (there can be considerable variation dependent on age):
- aortic annulus: ~23 mm
- aortic valve sinus / sinus of Valsalva: ~30 ± 5 mm
- ascending aorta: 31 ± 4 mm
- proximal to the brachiocephalic trunk: ~29 ± 4 mm
- proximal transverse arch: ~28 ± 4 mm
- distal transverse arch: ~26 ± 4 mm
- aortic isthmus: ~25 ± 4 mm
- at the diaphragm: ~24 ± 4 mm
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References
- 1. Last's Anatomy - 10th Edition - Chummy S Sinnatamby
- 2. Clemete's Anatomy - Regional Atlas of the Human Body - 3rd Edition
- 3. Gray's Anatomy 39th Edition, Elsevier
- 4. Moore KL, Agur AMR, Dalley AF. Clinically oriented anatomy. LWW. ISBN:1451119453. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 5. Freeman LA, Young PM, Foley TA, Williamson EE, Bruce CJ, Greason KL. CT and MRI assessment of the aortic root and ascending aorta. AJR. American journal of roentgenology. 200 (6): W581-92. doi:10.2214/AJR.12.9531 - Pubmed
Related articles: Anatomy: Thoracic
- thoracic skeleton
- thoracic cage
- thoracic spine
- articulations
- muscles of the thorax
- diaphragm
- intercostal space
- intercostal muscles
- variant anatomy
- spaces of the thorax
- thoracic viscera
- lower respiratory tract
-
heart
- cardiac chambers
- heart valves
- cardiac fibrous skeleton
- innervation of the heart
- development of the heart
- cardiac wall
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pericardium
- epicardium
- epicardial fat pad
- pericardial space
- oblique pericardial sinus
- transverse pericardial sinus
-
pericardial recesses
- aortic recesses
- pulmonic recesses
- postcaval recess
- pulmonary venous recesses
- pericardial ligaments
- myocardium
- endocardium
-
pericardium
- esophagus
- thymus
- breast
- arterial supply of the thorax
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thoracic aorta (development)
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ascending aorta
-
aortic root
- aortic annulus
-
coronary arteries
- coronary arterial dominance
- myocardial segments
-
left main coronary artery (LMCA)
- ramus intermedius artery (RI)
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circumflex artery (LCx)
- obtuse marginal branches (OM1, OM2, etc))
- Kugel's artery
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left anterior descending artery (LAD)
- diagonal branches (D1, D2, etc)
- septal perforators (S1, S2, etc)
-
right coronary artery (RCA)
- conus artery
- sinoatrial nodal artery
- acute marginal branches (AM1, AM2, etc)
- inferior interventricular artery (PDA)
- posterior left ventricular artery (PLV)
- congenital anomalies
- sinotubular junction
-
aortic root
- aortic arch
- aortic isthmus
- descending aorta
-
ascending aorta
- pulmonary trunk
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thoracic aorta (development)
- venous drainage of the thorax
- superior vena cava (SVC)
- inferior vena cava (IVC)
-
coronary veins
-
cardiac veins which drain into the coronary sinus
- great cardiac vein
- middle cardiac vein
- small cardiac vein
- posterior vein of the left ventricle
- vein of Marshall (oblique vein of the left atrium)
- anterior cardiac veins
- venae cordis minimae (smallest cardiac veins or thebesian veins)
-
cardiac veins which drain into the coronary sinus
- pulmonary veins
- bronchial veins
- thoracoepigastric vein
- lymphatics of the thorax
- innervation of the thorax
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