thoracic aorta

The thoracic aorta is the section of the aorta, the body's main artery, that runs through the chest. It begins as the ascending aorta, which carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle of the heart, then arches over the heart as the aortic arch, and finally descends through the trunk. The aortic arch gives rise to arteries supplying blood to the head, neck, and upper limbs. The descending thoracic aorta branches off to supply organs within the chest, including the heart, lungs, and esophagus, as well as parts of the diaphragm and chest wall. Diseases affecting the thoracic aorta can include atherosclerosis, leading to dilation or aneurysms, and medial necrosis, which can cause dissecting aneurysms. Aortic arch syndrome specifically refers to blockages in the vessels branching from the aortic arch.123