Aorta

Looks like

The body's main pipe, as thick as a garden hose, arching out of the heart and running down the spine.

What it does

Carries every drop of oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body.

Keeping it well

Blood pressure control and no smoking; tearing chest pain through to the back is an emergency.

Its parts

• Aortic root & sinuses
• Ascending aorta
• Aortic arch
• Descending thoracic aorta
• Descending aorta

Related conditions

• Aortic aneurysm
• Aortic dissection
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Hypothermia & frostbite
• Kawasaki disease
• Marfan syndrome & connective tissue disorders
• Metabolic syndrome
• Orthostatic hypotension & POTS
• Peripheral artery disease
• Phaeochromocytoma & hyperaldosteronism
• Pre-eclampsia
• Raynaud's phenomenon
• Sepsis
• Shock (circulatory failure)
• Takayasu arteritis
• Turner syndrome
• Vasculitis (GCA & others)