Aorta

Definition

The aorta is the largest artery in the human body, originating from the left ventricle of the heart and extending down to the abdomen, where it splits into smaller arteries. It is responsible for distributing oxygen-rich blood from the heart to all parts of the body through systemic circulation.

Related terms

Arteries:

Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart to various parts of the body.

Ventricles:

The two lower chambers of the heart, responsible for pumping blood out of the heart.

Systemic Circulation: The part of the cardiovascular system which carries oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body, and returns deoxygenated blood back to the heart