Aorta

The aorta is a large artery of the thoracic or abdominal cavity, through which venous blood is collected from the periphery and enters the left atrium.

The structural function is to ensure constant blood pressure in the vessels and deliver oxygen to the cells of organs and tissues.

It has the shape of a pipe with smoothed walls (wall thickness is on average 1-2 cm) and consists of several shells: the inner shell, the middle shell and the outer shell, which have different structures and functions.

The tunica inneris consists of a single layer of endothelial layer that lines the inner surface of the aorta and separates it from the middle muscular layer. The middle muscle layer consists of three sections (dorsal, medial and ventral), which maintain constant tone of the aorta. The outer shell consists of connective tissue and contains large vessels and nerves that provide blood supply and innervation to the walls of the aorta. The wall of the aorta also contains structures such as valves, which regulate the flow of blood and obstructions to the flow of blood, making blood circulation efficient and ensuring adequate oxygenation to the body's organs.

The important functions of the aorta are maintaining constant pressure in the circulatory system and delivering oxygen to the entire body. In addition, the aorta also serves as a backup circulatory system for optimal and efficient circulation in the event of vascular blockage or ruptured arteries.

The aorta works closely with other vital structures of the cardiovascular system, such as the heart and arteries. It is thanks to the aorta that the body is able to adequately maintain blood circulation without the occurrence of arterial hypotension, tissue ischemia and other adverse consequences.