Aorta
WordNet
noun
(1) The large trunk artery that carries blood from the left ventricle of the heart to branch arteries
WiktionaryText
Etymology
From from , lengthened form of
Noun
- The great artery which carries the blood from the heart to all parts of the body except the lungs; the main trunk of the arterial system.
- The liveliest part of something.
- Tracing their battles, I had many occasions to walk along Second Avenue, the aorta of the Lower East Side, exploring places that were once as vibrant and tumultuous as Midtown Manhattan. http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/01/26/travel/escapes/26yiddish.html?8dpc