Ascending aorta
Encyclopedia
The ascending aorta is a portion of the aorta
commencing at the upper part of the base of the left ventricle, on a level with the lower border of the third costal cartilage behind the left half of the sternum; it passes obliquely upward, forward, and to the right, in the direction of the heart’s axis, as high as the upper border of the second right costal cartilage, describing a slight curve in its course, and being situated, about 6 cm behind the posterior surface of the sternum. The total length is about 5 cm in length.
and opposite the cusps of the aortic valve, three small dilatations called the aortic sinuses.
The sinotubular junction is the point in the ascending aorta where the aortic sinuses end and the aorta becomes a tubular structure.
the caliber of the vessel is increased, owing to a bulging of its right wall.
This dilatation is termed the bulb of the aorta
, and on transverse section presents a somewhat oval figure.
The ascending aorta is contained within the pericardium
, and is enclosed in a tube of the serous pericardium, common to it and the pulmonary artery
.
The ascending aorta is covered at its commencement by the trunk of the pulmonary artery
and the right auricula
, and, higher up, is separated from the sternum by the pericardium, the right pleura, the anterior margin of the right lung, some loose areolar tissue, and the remains of the thymus; posteriorly, it rests upon the left atrium and right pulmonary artery.
On the right side, it is in relation with the superior vena cava
and right atrium
, the former lying partly behind it; on the left side, with the pulmonary artery.
.
Aorta
The aorta is the largest artery in the body, originating from the left ventricle of the heart and extending down to the abdomen, where it branches off into two smaller arteries...
commencing at the upper part of the base of the left ventricle, on a level with the lower border of the third costal cartilage behind the left half of the sternum; it passes obliquely upward, forward, and to the right, in the direction of the heart’s axis, as high as the upper border of the second right costal cartilage, describing a slight curve in its course, and being situated, about 6 cm behind the posterior surface of the sternum. The total length is about 5 cm in length.
Components
The aortic root is the portion of the ascending aorta beginning at the aortic annulus and extending to the sinotubular junction. Between each commissure of the aortic valveAortic valve
The aortic valve is one of the valves of the heart. It is normally tricuspid , although in 1% of the population it is found to be congenitally bicuspid . It lies between the left ventricle and the aorta....
and opposite the cusps of the aortic valve, three small dilatations called the aortic sinuses.
The sinotubular junction is the point in the ascending aorta where the aortic sinuses end and the aorta becomes a tubular structure.
Relations
At the union of the ascending aorta with the aortic archAortic arch
The arch of the aorta or the transverse aortic arch is the part of the aorta that begins at the level of the upper border of the second sternocostal articulation of the right side, and runs at first upward, backward, and to the left in front of the trachea; it is then directed backward on the left...
the caliber of the vessel is increased, owing to a bulging of its right wall.
This dilatation is termed the bulb of the aorta
Aorta
The aorta is the largest artery in the body, originating from the left ventricle of the heart and extending down to the abdomen, where it branches off into two smaller arteries...
, and on transverse section presents a somewhat oval figure.
The ascending aorta is contained within the pericardium
Pericardium
The pericardium is a double-walled sac that contains the heart and the roots of the great vessels.-Layers:...
, and is enclosed in a tube of the serous pericardium, common to it and the pulmonary artery
Pulmonary artery
The pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs. They are the only arteries that carry deoxygenated blood....
.
The ascending aorta is covered at its commencement by the trunk of the pulmonary artery
Pulmonary artery
The pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs. They are the only arteries that carry deoxygenated blood....
and the right auricula
Right atrium
The right atrium is one of four chambers in the hearts of mammals and archosaurs...
, and, higher up, is separated from the sternum by the pericardium, the right pleura, the anterior margin of the right lung, some loose areolar tissue, and the remains of the thymus; posteriorly, it rests upon the left atrium and right pulmonary artery.
On the right side, it is in relation with the superior vena cava
Superior vena cava
The superior vena cava is truly superior, a large diameter, yet short, vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the upper half of the body to the heart's right atrium...
and right atrium
Right atrium
The right atrium is one of four chambers in the hearts of mammals and archosaurs...
, the former lying partly behind it; on the left side, with the pulmonary artery.
Branches
The only branches of the ascending aorta are the two coronary arteries which supply the heart; they arise near the commencement of the aorta from the aortic sinuses which are opposite the aortic valveAortic valve
The aortic valve is one of the valves of the heart. It is normally tricuspid , although in 1% of the population it is found to be congenitally bicuspid . It lies between the left ventricle and the aorta....
.