Download This Sample
This sample is exclusively for KidsKonnect members!
To download this worksheet, click the button below to signup for free (it only takes a minute) and you'll be brought right back to this page to start the download!
Sign Me Up
Table of Contents
The aorta is the largest artery in the circulatory system and is about a foot long and over one inch in diameter. Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. Oxygen-rich blood is vital for the function of organs like the brain, lungs, and muscles.
See the fact file below for more information on the Aorta, or alternatively, you can download our 22-page Aorta worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
The Main Branches of the Aorta
- The aorta has a cane-like shape and is classified into three major parts: the ascending aorta, arch of the aorta, and descending aorta.
- The ascending aorta is the first part of the artery that is two inches long and is connected to the left ventricle of the heart. The ascending aorta branches off to relatively smaller arteries to supply the heart with blood.
- The arch of the aorta is the second part of the artery and is in the shape of an inverted letter U; it connects the ascending aorta and the descending aorta. The arch of the aorta branches into smaller arteries that supply blood to the brain, neck, and arms.
- The descending aorta is the last and the largest part of the aorta. The descending aorta has two subparts: the thoracic aorta, which supplies blood to the ribs and thoracic area, and the abdominal aorta, which supplies blood from the organs below the diaphragm down to the feet (e.g., kidney, stomach, and liver).
Etymology & History
- The word aorta derives from the Latin word, aorta, which comes from the Classic Greek word aortē, meaning ‘lift or raise.’ Aristotle first used it in 384 BC-322 BC to describe the great artery that seemed to be suspended vertically above the heart.
- Claudius Galenus (129 CE-216 CE) in Rome was among the first to study the anatomy of the heart, dissecting mostly monkeys and pigs. He differentiated the structures of the arteries and veins, which led him to describe the valves of the heart, including the aortic valve. In 1512, polymath Leonardo da Vinci accurately drew the aortic valve.
- It was first mentioned in the Talmud, a religious text of the Jewish way of life, and is noted as one of the three major blood vessels that enter and exit the heart, where death can be expected after an aortic perforation.
- On November 4, 1904, Spanish heart surgeon Ricardo Lozano Monzón first performed an endoaneurysmorrhaphy, a procedure that reconstructs the arterial wall using an arterial graft on a patient suffering from an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Other Sections of the Aorta
- The aortic root is connected to the left ventricle of the heart, partitioned by the aortic valve, which controls the blood flow. A few centimeters above the aortic valve, the aorta branches into the left and right coronary artery – its primary role is to supply blood for the perfusion of the myocardium – the heart muscle.
- The abdominal aorta runs from the diaphragm to the pelvis, where it branches into the iliac arteries. Five main artery branches stem from the abdominal aorta: the celiac artery, the superior mesenteric artery, the inferior mesenteric artery, the renal arteries, and the iliac arteries.
- The celiac arteries branch off into three: the left gastric artery, which supplies blood to some parts of the stomach and esophagus; the hepatic artery, which supplies blood to the liver; and the splenic artery, which supplies the spleen and pancreas.
- The superior mesenteric artery supplies blood to the small intestines.
- The inferior mesenteric artery supplies the large intestines of the abdomen.
- The renal arteries supply blood to the kidneys, the abdominal muscles, and the tail of the spinal cord.
- And lastly, common iliac arteries supply blood to the legs and organs in the pelvic area.
Aortic Conditions & Diseases
- Aortic stenosis is a condition when the aortic valve doesn’t fully open as it should, causing the heart to work harder to pump blood through the valve and into the aorta. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), diastolic dysfunction, and diastolic heart failure are possible consequences.
- Aortic regurgitation is a condition in which the aortic valve fails to close completely, allowing blood to flow back into the left ventricle. Aortic dissection in the ascending segment and infectious endocarditis are the two principal causes of its acute form. The degradation of the aortic valve, an aneurysm in the thoracic aorta, rheumatic fever, infectious endocarditis, and trauma are the main causes of the chronic form, which sometimes goes unnoticed over a long period.
- An abnormal expansion or bulging of the aortic wall is known as an aortic aneurysm. An aneurysm can occur anywhere in the vascular tree, such as the abdominal aorta. After diagnosis, and depending on the extent of the aneurysm, treatment might be required. Emergency surgery is necessary to control the bleeding from ruptured aneurysms.
- Aortic atherosclerosis is when plaque gathers and hardens in the aorta, obstructing blood flow and slowly weakening the aortic walls. It can result from aortic aneurysms, arterial thrombosis, strokes, angina, and arterial aneurysms.
- The aorta has three layers. Aortic dissection occurs when a tear forms in the inner layer, allowing blood to flow between the layers. This causes the layers to separate, stopping the blood flow and potentially bursting the artery wall. Symptoms such as stroke, lower extremity ischemia, or mesenteric ischemia may appear as a result of a decreased blood flow to other organs. Aortic dissection is a potentially fatal emergency that calls for immediate surgery to replace or repair the ruptured aorta segment.
- In fetal life, the ductus arteriosus is a conduit between the pulmonary artery and the aortic arch. In full-term newborns, it typically closes by the second day after birth. It is known as patent ductus arteriosus. If this situation lasts more than two days, it may result in heart failure or failure to thrive, depending on the extent of the patency.
Medical Management of Aortic Conditions & Diseases
- Aortic aneurysms can only be permanently treated by surgery, whether open or endovascular. When the risks of surgical correction outweigh the dangers of non-operative therapy, medical therapy is often reserved for smaller aneurysms or elderly, weak individuals or done by observation alone.
- The type of treatment for an acute dissection varies on where it is. Medical therapy is inferior to surgical management for Stanford type A (ascending aortic) dissection. Medical therapy over surgery is preferable for simple Stanford type B (distal aortic) dissections, including abdominal aortic dissections. After beginning medicinal therapy, complicated Stanford type B aortic dissections necessitate surgical intervention.
- In most cases, patients with aortic stenosis without symptoms don’t require treatment. Every 1-2 years, echocardiography is carried out in moderate instances to track the progression, maybe in conjunction with a heart stress test. If any new associated symptoms emerge in severe and mild cases, the person should consult their doctor immediately or admitted to inpatient care.
- Aortic valve stenosis patients are currently without therapy alternatives. However, studies from 2014 suggest that the condition results from active biological processes, suggesting that focusing on these may result in effective therapeutic approaches.
- If asymptomatic, treatment for adults and children with coarctation is conservative, but should arterial hypertension be present, surgical excision of the narrow segment may be necessary. When an artery is narrowed, angioplasty may be used to widen it, either with or without the implantation of a stent graft.
- Asymptomatic Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) can be managed conservatively and monitored with a view toward the eventual or immediate repair. AAA can be repaired with either open aneurysm surgery or endovascular aneurysm surgery (EVAR). If the aneurysm grows more than 1 cm each year or is larger than 5.5 cm, an intervention is frequently advised. Aneurysms that are symptomatic should also be repaired. The total survival percentage was 59% ten years following an open AAA repair.
- Treatment for Marfan Syndrome involves dealing with each problem as it occurs and, in particular, using a preventive medication, even in young children, to reduce the development of aortic dilatation. Therapeutic techniques such as eliminating heart arrhythmias, reducing the heart rate, and lowering the blood pressure, delay the advancement of aortic dilatation and prevent harm to the heart valves.
Aorta Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about the Aorta across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about the Aorta, which is the largest artery in the circulatory system and is about a foot long and over one inch in diameter.
Complete List of Included Worksheets
Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.
- Aorta Facts
- The Aorta in Action
- True or False?
- Aorta Crossword
- Sketching the Aorta
- Watch and React
- Artery vs. Vein
- Solve the Vessels
- Arteries on the Move
- Aorta Puzzle
- Let’s Keep the AORTA Healthy
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the aorta carry blood?
The aorta is a large artery that carries oxygen-rich blood away from the heart. This happens because the heart valves are made so that blood can only flow in one direction.
The aorta starts from the left ventricle of the heart. It goes up into the chest and forms an arch. Then extends down into the abdomen. Here it branches off into smaller arteries. The curved shape of the aorta lets other arteries deliver blood to different parts of your body.
Where is the aorta located?
The aorta is a long tube that starts in the lower-left chamber of your heart. It goes up to your head, before curving down again. The aorta travels through your chest and abdominal cavities until it reaches your pelvis.
What does the word “aorta” mean?
The aorta gets its name from the Greek word aorte, which means “strap” or “what is hung up.” This is because the aorta is the main artery that carries blood away from your heart.
Link/cite this page
If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.
Link will appear as Aorta Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, August 23, 2022
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.