The aorta is the largest human vessel. It is she who gives rise to a huge number of arteries that supply the body with blood, bringing to each organ a sufficient amount of nutrients and oxygen.
What is the aorta?
This is primarily the largest vessel that exists in the human body. In the case of any pathologies associated with the aorta, human life is in grave danger.
It is worth noting that the aorta is an unpaired vessel. Currently, its study is given quite a lot of attention. This is due to the fact that he is of great importance, because it is on him that there is a constant and at the same time a very large load.
Parts of the aorta
As noted earlier, this vessel is the largest in the human body. It is not surprising that the doctors decided to conditionally divide it into parts. As a result, the aorta of the heart is divided into 3 main sections:
- ascending;
- aortic arch;
- downward.
About ascending department
The starting point of the largest human vessel can be considered the aortic valve. It does not allow the blood from the heart to return, thereby disrupting hemodynamics. The ascending aorta is fairly short and of relatively little interest.
About the aortic arch
It is where the ascending department goes. In turn, the aortic arch is not the end of the largest vessel. The fact is that it goes into its descending department. The aortic arch is the convex part of the vessel facing upwards. Throughout this section, 3 large arteries depart from the main trunk. We are talking about the brachiocephalic trunk, left common carotid and left subclavian arteries. In the future, the brachiocephalic trunk, in turn, is divided into 2 large vessels - the right common carotid and right subclavian arteries. It is thanks to the aortic arch that the blood supply to the upper body is carried out.
Descending aorta
It consists of two main parts - thoracic and lumbar. The first of these begins immediately after the aortic arch. Often this area is very severe impact. This is due to the eddies in the blood flow that occur after passing through the ascending aorta and the aortic arch.
This part begins at the level of 3-4 thoracic vertebrae. Later, it passes to the level of the 4th lumbar vertebra, where it bifurcates into the right and left common iliac arteries, which are responsible for the blood supply to both lower extremities.
At the level of the bifurcation, another vessel departs from the aorta, which is formally considered its direct continuation. This is the median sacral artery. She isruns along the anterior surface of the sacrum.
Meaning of the aorta
The importance of the largest vessel in the human body is difficult to overestimate. The fact is that it is he who is the basis of a large circle of blood circulation. It is thanks to her that the blood supply to all organs and tissues is carried out.
Pathology of the aorta
Currently, all diseases of the largest vessel are divided into two large groups:
- congenital;
- purchased.
Regardless of the etiology of aortic diseases, all of them pose the most immediate danger to human life.
Congenital ailments
All these diseases are very dangerous and in most cases require serious surgical intervention. Among the main ailments, aortic coortation and Marfan syndrome should be noted.
Aortic coortation is an extremely dangerous congenital disease. It can be suspected by the uneven development of the upper and lower half of the body. In the event that a person has coortation of the aorta, the muscles of the upper limbs develop normally, and hypotrophy is observed below. In this case, the patient may complain of weakness and soreness in the lower extremities, especially after physical exertion.
As for Marfan's syndrome, the cause of deaths in this disease is mainly just the pathology of the development of the aorta. Most often it is the stratification of the wall of the largest vessel in the body. The increased risk of this particular pathology is due to the fact that the wall of the aorta in Marfan syndrome is weakened and is able to withstand much less stress than under normal conditions.
Acquired pathology
The aorta is a very important and at the same time quite often affected part of the body. The most common problems with the aorta, which do not occur as a result of intrauterine development, but during life, are various kinds of aneurysms and ruptures.
As for the rupture of the aortic wall, it is perhaps the most dangerous condition in medicine. Most often, people who have a similar pathology cannot be saved. The fact is that the rupture of the largest vessel in the body is accompanied by a serious hemorrhage. As a result, the person needs urgent surgical treatment. There is a small chance to save a patient with this pathology only if he is already in a medical institution, and preferably in a specialized one.
The most common cause of aortic rupture is a significant decrease in the elasticity of its wall, which is observed against the background of the deposition of calcium s alts on it.
Another serious pathology of the aorta is its aneurysm. Among other things, it can also lead to rupture of the vessel wall. The essence of an aneurysm is that under the constant pressure of blood flows, one of the sections of the aorta can expand in a sac-like manner. Most often, such a pathology occurs where the vessel wall is at least slightly weakened. The usual localization for such changes is the aortic arch and its abdominal region. Whereincompaction of the aorta is usually not clinically manifested. In addition to the risk of rupture of the vessel wall, a serious danger is also caused by an increased risk of blood clots. If it is formed and begins its movement along the bloodstream, this can lead to the most deplorable consequences for a person.
Diagnosis of aortic diseases
Currently, there are several ways to diagnose a pathology that affects the largest of the existing human vessels. Chief among them are:
- echocardiography (transthoracic and transesophageal);
- magnetic resonance imaging;
- angiography.
Echocardiography is the simplest of the methods listed above. Its essence lies in the use for diagnostics of an apparatus that emits and captures reflected ultrasonic waves. Most often, the transthoracic technique is used for research. In this case, the sensor, lubricated with a special gel, is moved along the patient's chest. The transesophageal examination is more complex and less frequently used.
Magnetic resonance imaging is a very modern and informative, but quite expensive method for diagnosing aortic pathology. Thanks to him, it is possible to visualize each section of the aorta from different angles. This allows the specialist to determine the presence of even small changes in the vessel wall, including the usual thickening of the aorta.
Angiography is also very informativeresearch methodology. However, its use is associated with certain risks. The fact is that the essence of the method lies in the introduction of a radiopaque liquid into the lumen of the vessel. Sometimes it causes harmful reactions in the human body, which can reach a very serious severity. So the aorta is a rather difficult target for research. This technique allows you to visualize the flow of blood through the vessels. As a result, the doctor conducting the study will see all parts of the aorta, the places of their narrowing and expansion, as well as other deviations from the norm.
