The Aorta, sections and branches (coarctation, dissection and aneurysm)

The aorta is the largest artery in the human body and arguably one of the most important. It receives oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle of the heart and supplies it to the body via the systemic circulation.

The aorta can be divided into four sections: the ascending aorta, the aortic arch, the thoracic (or descending) aorta and the abdominal aorta. It terminates by bifurcating into the left and right common iliac arteries. There are three major branches which arise from the aortic arch.
Proximal to distal these are: the brachiocephalic trunk, the left common carotid artery, and the
left subclavian artery.