Descending aorta

Looks like

The part of the aorta running down the back of the chest beside the spine, then through the diaphragm into the belly.

What it does

Carries oxygen-rich blood to the chest wall, lower body, gut, kidneys and legs.

Keeping it well

Can tear (dissection) or balloon (aneurysm). Sudden tearing chest or back pain is an emergency; smokers over 65 get an ultrasound check.

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)