Abdominal aorta

This article usesanatomical terminology.

Abdominal aorta
Segments of theaorta,with bothsuprarenalandinfrarenalabdominal aorta
The abdominal aorta and its branches.
Details
Source	Thoracic aorta
Branches	Celiac artery,superior mesenteric artery,inferior mesenteric artery,common iliac,ovarian artery,median sacral artery
Vein	Inferior vena cava
Identifiers
Latin	aorta abdominalis, pars abdominalis aortae
MeSH	D001012
TA98	A12.2.12.001
TA2	4205
FMA	3789
Anatomical terminology

Inhuman anatomy,theabdominal aortais the largestarteryin theabdominal cavity.As part of theaorta,it is a direct continuation of thedescending aorta(of thethorax).

Structure

The abdominal aorta begins at the level of thediaphragm,crossing it via theaortic hiatus,technically behind the diaphragm, at the vertebral level of T12.It travels down the posterior wall of the abdomen, anterior to the vertebral column. It thus follows the curvature of the lumbar vertebrae, that is, convex anteriorly. The peak of this convexity is at the level of the third lumbar vertebra (L3). It runs parallel to theinferior vena cava,which is located just to the right of the abdominal aorta, and becomes smaller in diameter as it gives off branches. This is thought to be due to the large size of its principal branches. At the 11th rib, the diameter is 122mm long and 55mm wide and this is because of the constant pressure.The abdominal aorta is clinically divided into 2 segments:

1. Thesuprarenal abdominalorparavisceralsegment,inferiorto thediaphragmbut superior to the renal arteries.
2. TheInfrarenalsegment,inferiorto the renal arteries andsuperiorto the iliac bifurcation.

Branches

The abdominal aorta supplies blood to much of the abdominal cavity. It begins at T12 and ends at L4 with its bifurcation into the common iliac arteriesand usually has the following branches:

Artery Branch	Vertebra	Type	Paired?	A/P	Description
inferior phrenic	T12	Parietal	yes	post.	Originates above the celiac trunk, below the diaphragm. Passes upward and medially to the suprarenal gland, and crosses crus of diaphragm of corresponding side. Supplies diaphragm and gives superior suprarenal arteries.
celiac	T12	Visceral	no	ant.	Large anterior branch
superior mesenteric	L1	Visceral	no	ant.	Large anterior branch, arises just below celiac trunk
middle suprarenal	L1	Visceral	yes	post.	Crosses crus of diaphragm laterally on each side; supplies the suprarenal gland.
renal	In between L1 and L2	Visceral	yes	post.	Arises just below the superior mesenteric artery. Right renal artery passes deep to the inferior vena cava to right kidney; here it divides into branches. Left renal artery passes deep to the left renal vein. Divides in hilum of kidney. Both arteries give inferior suprarenal arteries and ureteral branches.
gonadal	L2	Visceral	yes	ant.	Ovarian arteryin females;testicular arteryin males
lumbar	L1-L4	Parietal	yes	post.	Four on each side that supply theabdominal wallandspinal cord.The fifth pair is the lumbar branches of the iliolumbar arteries. They pass deep to the crura on side of vertebral bodies and pass deep to the psoas major and quadratus lumborum to enter the space between the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles. Each artery gives off a small dorsal branch, which gives a spinal branch to the vertebral canal and then continues to supply the muscles of the back.
inferior mesenteric	L3	Visceral	no	ant.	Large anterior branch
median sacral	L4	Parietal	no	post.	Artery arising from the middle of the aorta at its lowest part. Represents the continuation of the primitive dorsal aorta; quite large in animals with tails but smaller in humans.
common iliac	L4	Terminal	yes	post.	Branches (bifurcations) to supply blood to thelower limbsand the pelvis, ending the abdominal aorta

The bifurcation (union) of theinferior vena cavais at L5 and therefore below that of the bifurcation of the aorta.

Volume renderedCT scanof abdominal and pelvic blood vessels.

1. inferior phrenic a.
2. celiac a.
   1. left gastric a.
   2. splenic a.
      1. short gastric arteries (6)
      2. splenic arteries (6)
      3. left gastroepiploic a.
      4. pancreatic arteries
   3. common hepatic a.
      1. right gastric a.
      2. gastroduodenal a.
         1. right gastroepiploic a.
         2. superior pancreaticoduodenal a.
      3. right hepatic a.
         1. cystic a.
      4. left hepatic a.
3. superior mesenteric a.
   1. inferior pancreaticoduodenal a.
   2. jejunal and ileal arteries
   3. middle colic a.
   4. right colic a.
   5. ileocolic a
      1. anterior cecal a.
      2. posterior cecal a. – appendicular a.
      3. ileal a.
      4. colic a.
4. middle suprarenal a.
5. renal a.
6. testicular or ovarian a.
7. four lumbar arteries
8. inferior mesenteric a.
   1. left colic a.
   2. sigmoid arteries (2 or 3)
   3. superior rectal a.
9. median sacral a.
10. common iliac a.
    1. external iliac a.
    2. internal iliac a.

Relations

The abdominal aorta lies slightly to the left of the midline of the body. It is covered, anteriorly, by thelesser omentumandstomach,behind which are the branches of theceliac arteryand theceliac plexus;below these, by thelienal vein(splenic vein), are thepancreas,the leftrenal vein,the inferior part of theduodenum,themesentery,and theaortic plexus.

Posteriorly, it is separated from the lumbar vertebrae and intervertebral fibrocartilages by theanterior longitudinal ligamentand left lumbar veins.

On the right side it is in relation above with theazygos vein,cisterna chyli,thoracic duct,and the rightcrus of the diaphragm—the last separating it from the upper part of theinferior vena cava,and from the rightceliac ganglion;the inferior vena cava is in contact with the aorta below.

On the left side are the left crus of the diaphragm, the left celiac ganglion, the ascending part of the duodenum, and some coils of thesmall intestine.

A 3D illustration of the abdominal aorta at the iliac junction

Relationship with inferior vena cava

The abdominal aorta's venous counterpart, theinferior vena cava(IVC), travels parallel to it on its right side.

• Above the level of theumbilicus,the aorta is somewhat posterior to the IVC, sending theright renal arterytravelling behind it. The IVC likewise sends its opposite side counterpart, theleft renal vein,crossing in front of the aorta.
• Below the level of the umbilicus, the situation is generally reversed, with the aorta sending its rightcommon iliac arteryto cross its opposite side counterpart (the leftcommon iliac vein) anteriorly.

Collateral circulation

The collateral circulation would be carried on by the anastomoses between theinternal thoracic arteryand theinferior epigastric artery;by the free communication between the superior and inferior mesenterics, if the ligature were placed between these vessels; or by the anastomosis between theinferior mesenteric arteryand theinternal pudendal artery,when (as is more common) the point of ligature is below the origin of theinferior mesenteric artery;and possibly by the anastomoses of thelumbar arterieswith the branches of theinternal iliac artery.

Clinical significance

Aneurysm

Main article:Abdominal aortic aneurysm

Additional images

• 
  Contrast enhanced MRA of the abdominal aorta demonstrating normal paired arteries.
• 
  The celiac artery and its branches; the stomach has been raised and the peritoneum removed.
• 
  Transverse section through the middle of the first lumbar vertebra, showing the relations of the pancreas.
• 
  CT scan showing the liver and a kidney
• 
  A transverse contrast enhanced CT scan demonstrating an abdominal aortic aneurysm of 4.8 by 3.8 cm
• 
  The standard aortic measurement onabdominal ultrasonography,such as used forabdominal aortic aneurysms,is between the outer margins of the aortic wall.
• 
  Abdominal aorta
• 
  Abdominal aorta ultrasound

See also

• Cardiovascular system
• Nutcracker syndrome
• Aortocaval compression syndrome

External links

• UCC