Where is abdominal aorta

Factors that can increase your risk of having this problem include: Smoking High blood pressure Male sex Genetic factors An abdominal aortic aneurysm is most often seen in males over age 60 who have one or more risk factors. Symptoms of rupture include: Pain in the abdomen or back. The pain may be severe, sudden, persistent, or constant. It may spread to the groin, buttocks, or legs. Passing out. Clammy skin.

Nausea and vomiting. Rapid heart rate. Exams and Tests. The provider may find: A lump mass in the abdomen Pulsating sensation in the abdomen Stiff or rigid abdomen Your provider may find this problem by doing the following tests: Ultrasound of the abdomen when the abdominal aneurysm is first suspected CT scan of the abdomen to confirm the size of the aneurysm CTA computed tomographic angiogram to help with surgical planning Any one of these tests may be done when you are having symptoms.

Most men between the ages of 65 to 75, who have smoked during their life should have this test one time. Some men between the ages of 65 to 75, who have never smoked during their life may need this test one time. If the aneurysm is small and there are no symptoms: Surgery is rarely done.

You and your provider must decide if the risk of having surgery is smaller than the risk of bleeding if you do not have surgery. Your provider may want to check the size of the aneurysm with ultrasound tests every 6 months.

There are two types of surgery: Open repair - A large cut is made in your abdomen. The abnormal vessel is replaced with a graft made of man-made material. Endovascular stent grafting - This procedure can be done without making a large cut in your abdomen, so you may recover more quickly. This may be a safer approach if you have certain other medical problems or are an older adult. Endovascular repair can sometimes be done for a leaking or bleeding aneurysm.

Outlook Prognosis. The outcome is often good if you have surgery to repair the aneurysm before it ruptures. Uncommon congenital and acquired aortic diseases: role of multidetector CT angiography.

Understanding the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther. Isolated abdominal aortic dissection. BMJ Case Rep. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification.

I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Clinical Significance. The abdominal aorta gets wider and less flexible as we get older. The Anatomy of the Aorta. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles.

Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Related Articles. The Anatomy of the Aortic Arch. The Anatomy of the Ophthalmic Artery. The Anatomy of the Femoral Artery.

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Learn about UF clinical research studies that are seeking volunteers. You can get a vaccine in many places in your community. Find a walk-up location or schedule an appointment today. Read more. The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body. This artery is responsible for transporting oxygen rich blood from your heart to the rest of your body. The aorta begins at the left ventricle of the heart, extending upward into the chest to form an arch.

It then continues downward into the abdomen, where it branches into the iliac arteries just above the pelvis. Considering the significant portion of the body that the aorta spans, it is helpful to break it down into the following four sections:.