The main blood vessel of the body; it carries blood from the left side of the heart to other arteries throughout the body. (See circulatory system.)
aorta a·or·ta (ā-ôr'tə)
n. pl. a·or·tas or a·or·tae (-tē)
The large artery that is the main trunk of the systemic arterial system, arising from the base of the left ventricle, ending at the left side of the body of the fourth lumbar vertebra, dividing to form the right and left common iliac arteries, and whose parts are the ascending aorta, the aortic arch, and the descending aorta.