“Descending Aorta”  

  In our body, the Descending Aorta is the section of the aorta beginning at the aortic arch (arch of aorta), that runs down through the chest and abdomen, to the point where it divides into tthe (right and left) common iliac arteries.
  In our body, the Descending Aorta is subdivided into the thoracic aorta and abdominal aorta.
descending aorta

• thoracic aorta
  • abdominal aorta

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“Thoracic Aorta”  

  In our body's arterial blood system, the artery, thoracic aorta is the portion of the descending aorta proceeding from the aortic arch (arch of aorta) and extending to the diaphragm (thoracic diaphragm), eventually connecting to the abdominal aorta.

The Thoracic Aorta is composed of an aortic media with regular elastic lamellae alternating with smooth muscle cell layers aligned between the normal elastic lamellae. Layers of endothelial cells constitute aortic intima lying on the internal elastic lamina. In the normal aorta, well-formed elastin fibers display in a lamellar pattern.
  The Thoracic Aorta begins at the level of the T5 vertebra, continuing through to the diaphragm at the level of the T12 vertebra, initially traveling within the mediastinum to the left of the vertebral column.

As the thoracic aorta passes through the thoracic region, it gives rise to several branches, collectively referred to as visceral branches and parietal branches. **

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“Abdominal Aorta”  

  In our body's arterial system, the Abdominal Aorta is the part of the aorta from the diaphragm (thoracic diaphragm) to the beginning of the iliac arteries at the bifurcation of the right and left common iliac arteries. **

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“Sinuses of Valsalva (Aortic Sinuses)”  

Aortic Sinus (Sinus of Valsalva)

  In our body's arterial blood system, in the aortic root, the Sinuses of Valsalva, named after the Italian anatomist Antonio Valsalva, are three bulges (dilatations) of the aortic wall, two of the three sinuses host the origin of the coronary arteries and the sinuses, termed accordingly the left, right and non-coronary sinus.

Sinus of Valsalva (Aortic Sinus)

  In our body's arterial blood system, the artery, each Sinus of Valsalva (Aortic Sinus) is the dilatation of the aortic wall behind each of the cusps of the aortic valve. **

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