aorta

[ey-awr-tuh] /eɪˈɔr tə/

noun, plural aortas, aortae

[ey-awr-tee] /eɪˈɔr ti/ (Show IPA). Anatomy

the main trunk of the arterial system, conveying blood from the left ventricle of the heart to all of the body except the lungs.

Origin

1570-80; < Medieval Latin < Greek aortḗ the great artery, literally, something hung, carried; akin to aeírein to lift, carry

Related forms

aortic, aortal, adjective

postaortic, adjective

preaortic, adjective

Examples from the web for aorta

Blood flows out of your heart and into the aorta through a valve.
On one question, students must decide whether the trouble is with the cardiopulmonary plexus or the arch of the aorta.
Doctors are also using ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging to detect early expansion of the weakened aorta.
The discomfort under her breastbone, it turned out, had been caused by a tear in her aorta.
But now two potentially fatal flaws are apparent: a hole in the aorta and another in the heart.
aorta branches off into many other arteries that take blood into all parts of the body.
Not to say that a blue whale's aorta is not big enough for an adult.
Surgery to repair the aorta may be required if the condition is caused by disorders of the aorta.
Coarctation of the aorta is a birth defect that causes narrowing of the aorta, the main artery of the heart.
The other end will be sewn to an opening made in your aorta.

British Dictionary definitions for aorta

aorta

/eɪˈɔːtə/

noun (pl) -tas, -tae (-tiː)

the main vessel in the arterial network, which conveys oxygen-rich blood from the heart to all parts of the body except the lungs

Derived Forms

aortic, aortal, adjective

Word Origin

C16: from New Latin, from Greek aortē, literally: something lifted, from aeirein to raise

Word Origin and History for aorta

1570s, from Medieval Latin aorta, from Greek aorte, term applied by Aristotle to the great artery of the heart, literally "what is hung up," from aeirein "to lift, heave, raise," of uncertain origin; related to the second element in meteor. Used earlier by Hippocrates of the bronchial tubes. Related: Aortal; aortic.

aorta in Medicine

aorta a·or·ta (ā-ôr'tə)
n. pl. a·or·tas or a·or·tae (-tē)
The large artery that is the main trunk of the systemic arterial system, arising from the base of the left ventricle, ending at the left side of the body of the fourth lumbar vertebra, dividing to form the right and left common iliac arteries, and whose parts are the ascending aorta, the aortic arch, and the descending aorta.

a·or'tal or a·or'tic adj.

aorta in Science

aorta

(ā-ôr'tə)
Plural aortas or aortae (ā-ôr'tē)
The main artery of the circulatory system, arising from the left ventricle of the heart in mammals and birds and carrying blood with high levels of oxygen to all the arteries of the body except those of the lungs.

aorta in Culture

aorta [(ay-awr-tuh)]

The main blood vessel of the body; it carries blood from the left side of the heart to other arteries throughout the body. (See circulatory system.)