Thorax - transverse section

You selected: descending aorta

Blood exiting the left side of the heart enters the aorta - the largest artery in the body. The carotid arteries to the head, and subclavian arteries to the arms branch off the aortic arch. The aorta (shown here) then descends through the abdomen until it splits into the iliac arteries which supply blood to the legs.

Key points in this image
lungs | ribs | right atrium | left atrium | right ventricle | left ventricle | serratus anterior | latissimus dorsi | erector spinae | pectoralis major |
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Information
Module Name: thorax
Module Title: Thorax - transverse section
Image Info: Gross specimen.
Created by: Lynn Bry
Contact Email:bryl@medicine.wustl.edu
Last modified: Dec 12th, 1996
Created with Annotation 1.0