Character

The Common Vein Copyright 2007

 

The aortic wall, with its high elastic content supported by muscle and collagen, allows for transmission of a more or less steady blood pressure within the circulation by providing a tensile strength that can be adjusted to conform to the pumping strength of the heart muscle

Ascending Aorta

Annulus

The annulus is strong and fibrous

Sinuses

The sines have the same character as the aortic wall in general but it is their pocket like shape that characterises them.

Tubular Portion

The tubular portion is elastic and strong with smooth glistning endothelial surface in the young with progressive roughening of the surface with age and wear.

Normal Smooth glistening Endothelial Surface of the Neonatal Aorta (overlaid in pink in the second image)

01575b06 aorta endothelium ductus arteriosus brachiocephalic arteries intercostal arteries neonate normal smooth normal anatomy gross pathology Courtesy Ashley Davidoff MD

Aortic Arch

The arch retains the characteristics of the aorta as described above for the tubular portion.  ie it is strong, elastic with a smooth endothelial lining

Thoracic and Abdominal Aorta

The same characteristics of strong pliable elastic wit smooth glistening surface pertain.

Neonatal Aorta

01900.800 adrenal aorta IVC kidney liver lung small bowel ureter diaphragm normal fetal lobation neonate growth time grossanatomy Davidoff MD

Applied Biology

Atherosclerosis

This image shows three pathological specimens of the aorta. In the first image minimally raised fatty streaks are noted. (a). In image b, the fibrous capsule causes raised fibrofatty nodules, while in c, there gas been rupture of the plaques, with friable atheromatous plaques abound. Courtesy Henri Cuenoid MD 13420c CVS artery aorta atheroscleosis atheroma fatty streaks fibro

Infiltration of Fat and Fibrous Tissue

Addition of Fbrous Tissue Creates a Fibrofatty Plaque

The diagram shows the atherosclerotic lesion in the subepithelial layer of the intima which is bulging both toward the media and toward the lumen. There is a central core of fat and necrotic debris, surrounded by fibrous elements which give the plaque its hardness to the feel. The accumulation of fibrous tissue heralds an advanced atherosclerotic lesion. 33801b Courtesy Ashley Davidoff MD. code heart artery atherosclerosis Davidoff art

Irregular Walls with Focal Areas of Thickening

48363 descending thoracic aorta fx aortic ulcer fx atherosclerosis atheroma fx penetrating ulcer CTscan Courtesy Ashley Davidoff MD

Laying Down of Dystrophic Calcification

Atherosclerosis of the Aortic Wall

13316 13314 13313 aorta aortic wall elastic layer intima plaque complex lesion atherosclerosis atheroma complex lesion histopathlogy Courtesy Dr Isabelle Joris

Atherosclerotic Calcification of the Splenic Artery and Aneurysmal Aorta

22014b spleen + fx irregular scar wedge defect calcification + dx chronic splenic infarction + imaging radiology CTscan splenic artery calcified calcification serpigenous atherosclerosis abdomen aorta AAA