It's Topic Tuesday

ducgiao10
Jul 23, 2024
2 min read

Good morning everyone! We hope your week has been getting off to a great start so far. Today we will be discussing some basic anatomy of the abdominal aorta.

The abdominal aorta is a continuation of the thoracic aorta and is a crucial artery in the body. It supplies blood to the abdominal and pelvic organs, as well as the legs.

Location and Course

Origin: The abdominal aorta begins at the level of the diaphragm
Course: It descends through the abdominal cavity and slightly to the left of the midline.
Termination: It splits into the right and left common iliac arteries

Branches

The abdominal aorta gives off several branches.

Parietal Branches

Inferior Phrenic Arteries: Supply the diaphragm.
Lumbar Arteries: Typically four pairs, supply the posterior abdominal wall muscles and the spinal cord.

Visceral Branches

Celiac Trunk: A short artery that divides into three major branches:

Left Gastric Artery: Supplies the stomach.
Splenic Artery: Supplies the spleen.
Common Hepatic Artery: Supplies the liver, stomach, and duodenum.

Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA): Supplies the majority of the small intestine and part of the large intestine (cecum, ascending colon, and part of the transverse colon).
Middle Suprarenal Arteries: Supply the adrenal glands.
Renal Arteries: Supply the kidneys.
Gonadal Arteries: Supply the gonads (testes in males and ovaries in females).
Inferior Mesenteric Artery (IMA): Supplies the remaining part of the transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, and rectum.

Gedmintas et al. Ultrasound. 2011

Clinical Significance

Aneurysms: Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are a common and potentially life-threatening condition characterized by the dilation/enlargement of the aorta.
Occlusions: Atherosclerosis can lead to the narrowing or blockage of the abdominal aorta or its branches, limiting blood flow to the organs and legs.

Medline Plus

In conclusion, the abdominal aorta is a vital artery, ensuring blood supply to many essential organs and structures within the abdomen and lower body.

This is all we have for you today folks. We hope this has been informative. Join us back here next Tuesday.

Take care and stay healthy,

Duc