Descending aorta
Updates to Article Attributes
Body
was changed:
The descending aorta is the continuation of the aortic arch in the posterior mediastinum.
Gross anatomy
The descending aorta commences at the level of the fourth thoracic vertebra body, on it’sits left, in the plane of Ludwig as the continuation of the aortic arch. It descends in the posterior mediastinum initially on the left of the thoracic vertbebralvertebral bodies, but thethen in the midline. It exits the thorax by continuescontinuing as the abdominal aorta at the aortic diaphragmatic hiatus at the level of the twelfth thoracic vertebra 1.
Branches
- pericardial branches
- bronchial arteries
- mediastinal arteries
- oesophageal arteries
- superior phrenic arteries
- posterior intercostal arteries
- subcostal arteries
Relations
Anteriorly (from superior to inferior):
- left main bronchus and the hilum of the left lung
- pericardium
- left atrium
- oesophagus
- diaphragm
Posteriorly (from superior to inferior):
- necks of the ribs of left 5 and 6th ribs
- sympathetic chain
- thoracic vertebral bodies
- hemiazygos vein
To the right (from superior to inferior):
- right pleura and lung
- thoracic duct
- upper oesophagus
To the left (from superior to inferior):
- left pleura and lung
- lower oesophagus
-<p>The <strong>descending aorta</strong> is the continuation of the <a href="/articles/aortic-arch">aortic arch</a> in the <a href="/articles/mediastinum">posterior mediastinum</a>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The descending aorta commences at the level of the fourth thoracic vertebra body, on it’s left, in the <a href="/articles/thoracic-plane">plane of Ludwig</a> as the continuation of the aortic arch. It descends in the posterior mediastinum initially on the left of the thoracic vertbebral bodies, but the in the midline. It exits the thorax by continues as the <a href="/articles/abdominal-aorta-1">abdominal aorta </a>at the <a href="/articles/aortic-hiatus">aortic diaphragmatic hiatus</a> at the level of the twelfth thoracic vertebra <sup>1</sup>.</p><h5>Branches</h5><ul>- +<p>The <strong>descending aorta</strong> is the continuation of the <a href="/articles/aortic-arch">aortic arch</a> in the <a href="/articles/mediastinum">posterior mediastinum</a>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The descending aorta commences at the level of the fourth thoracic vertebra body, on its left, in the <a href="/articles/thoracic-plane">plane of Ludwig</a> as the continuation of the aortic arch. It descends in the posterior mediastinum initially on the left of the thoracic vertebral bodies, but then in the midline. It exits the thorax by continuing as the <a href="/articles/abdominal-aorta-1">abdominal aorta </a>at the <a href="/articles/aortic-hiatus">aortic diaphragmatic hiatus</a> at the level of the twelfth thoracic vertebra <sup>1</sup>.</p><h5>Branches</h5><ul>
-<li><a title="subcostal artery" href="/articles/subcostal-artery">subcostal arteries</a></li>- +<li><a href="/articles/subcostal-artery">subcostal arteries</a></li>
-<li><a href="/articles/sympathetic-chain">sympathetic chain</a></li>- +<li><a href="/articles/sympathetic-chain-1">sympathetic chain</a></li>
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