Descending thoracic aorta

Looks like

The straight run of aorta down the left side of the spine behind the heart, to the diaphragm.

What it does

Takes blood to the chest wall, the oesophagus and on to the abdomen and legs.

Keeping it well

Blood pressure control and not smoking protect it from widening and tearing. Sudden severe pain between the shoulder blades is a dissection until proven otherwise and needs an ambulance.

Its parts

• Esophageal artery
• Right subcostal artery
• Left subcostal artery

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)