Imagine your entire body as a big, busy city. Then the heart is the main water tank in that city. From this tank, there must be a big, strong main pipe to carry water to every house and street in the city, right? That's how the main blood vessel in our body, which carries clean, oxygenated blood from the heart to the entire body, is. We call this the aorta. Today we are going to talk about the first and most important part of this great pipe, the aorta, which is connected to the heart itself. That is the ascending aorta.
Simply put, what is the ascending aorta?
Simply put, the ascending aorta is the first part of the aorta, the largest blood vessel in our body. When the heart works like a pump and pumps blood, the blood first enters this ascending aorta. It is like the first piece of the main pipe coming out of a water tank. This part starts from the heart and travels upwards. The word "aorta" means "to go up". So you can get an idea of its location from this name.
It is from this part that the aortic arch forms and then travels downward as the descending aorta. That is, the ascending aorta is the beginning of this main vascular system that supplies blood to the entire body.
What benefit does this have for our bodies?
The role of the ascending aorta is very crucial. Imagine, our heart has four main chambers. Of these, the left ventricle is the one that pumps clean, oxygenated blood to the entire body.
So, the blood pumped by this left ventricle first enters the ascending aorta. From there, every organ, every cell, from the brain to the toes, receives the oxygen and nutrients it needs to survive.
And there is another special thing. The heart, which pumps blood to the entire body, also needs blood to function, doesn't it? The two main blood vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle, the coronary arteries, also start from this ascending aorta. So, it is clear from this that the ascending aorta is a very important part that gives life to the heart as well as the entire body.
In short, the ascending aorta is the starting point of the main pipeline that supplies blood to our body. If there is even the slightest defect in this, the entire system can be affected.
Where is this located? What does it look like?
The ascending aorta is located inside our chest, directly above the left ventricle on the left side of the heart. To be precise, it is located behind the flat bone in the middle of our chest, the sternum.
In terms of appearance, the entire aorta is shaped a bit like a rod. The root of this rod, that is, the part that starts from the heart and goes straight up, is the ascending aorta. Then there is a bend in the rod like a handle, which we call the aortic arch. Then the part that goes down like the long part of the rod is the descending aorta.
The ascending aorta of a healthy adult is usually 5-8 centimeters (about 2-3 inches) long and 3-4 centimeters wide. It gradually becomes thinner as it goes down.
Parts of the ascending aorta and layers of its wall
This important blood vessel divides into several smaller sections. And like any blood vessel, this one has a wall made up of several layers. Let's look at this in a little more detail.
| Part / Layer | Description |
|---|---|
| The two main parts of the ascending aorta | |
| Aortic Root | This is the first part of the heart that is connected to the heart itself. The aortic valve, which acts as a door for blood to pass from the left ventricle of the heart into the aorta, is located in this part. The two coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle also begin here. |
| Tubular Ascending Aorta | This is the tube-like part that runs from the root of the great artery to the arch of the great artery. No other branches branch off from this part. |
| The three layers of the arterial wall | |
| Tunica Intima | This is the smooth layer inside the wall that comes into contact with blood. |
| Media | This is the middle layer. It contains elastic fibers. This layer helps the blood vessels expand and contract when the heart beats. This layer can weaken as we age. |
| Adventitia | This is the outermost protective layer. It contains tiny blood vessels. |
What are the diseases that affect the ascending aorta?
There are several conditions that can affect this very important blood vessel. Some of these can be very dangerous. So it's important to be aware of them.
| Illness | Simply explained |
|---|---|
| Aortic Aneurysm | This is the most common and dangerous condition. What happens here is that a weak spot in the wall of the aorta bulges out like a balloon. This can be caused by things like high blood pressure, smoking, and genetic factors. This bulge is dangerous because it can tear through the layers of the wall (Aortic Dissection) or completely burst (Rupture) . If that happens, it can cause massive bleeding inside the body and even be life-threatening. |
| Aortic Valve Stenosis | The aortic valve is like a door. When this door doesn't open properly and becomes narrow, the heart has to work harder than usual to pump blood out. It's like trying to fit a large chair through a narrow door. Over time, this can cause the heart muscle to enlarge. |
| Aortic Valve Regurgitation | What happens here is that the aortic valve doesn't close completely. It's like the door is slightly open instead of closing properly. Then some of the pumped blood leaks back into the left ventricle of the heart. This causes the heart to have to pump more blood than it should, and over time, the heart can become weaker. |
| Bicuspid Aortic Valve (BAV) | Normally, the aortic valve has three flaps. However, some people are born with only two flaps. This condition can cause the valve to narrow over time or allow blood to flow backward. People with this condition are also at increased risk of developing an aneurysm. |
| Connective Tissue Diseases | Genetic conditions such as Marfan Syndrome and Loeys- Dietz Syndrome weaken the body's connective tissue. Because the walls of the aorta are made up of these tissues, people with these conditions are at a much higher risk of developing aorta problems. |
| Inflammatory Disorders | Diseases such as giant cell arteritis can cause inflammation in the wall of the large artery, weakening it. |
So how do we keep this great artery healthy?
The same things we do to keep our heart and blood vessels healthy are also important for the health of the ascending aorta. There is no need to do anything special for this. The main thing is to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
- Healthy diet: Eat a diet low in salt, cholesterol, and saturated fat, and rich in vegetables, fruits, and herbs.
- Regular exercise: Engage in exercise such as walking, running, or cycling for at least 30 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week.
- Avoid smoking: Smoking is the biggest damage you can do to your blood vessels. Quit smoking today.
- Limit alcohol consumption: Alcohol consumption can cause high blood pressure, so control it.
- Blood pressure and cholesterol control: If you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels, follow the instructions and medications given by your doctor carefully.
When should you see a doctor?
If you have already been diagnosed by a doctor with an ascending aorta condition or any other heart condition, notify your doctor immediately if you develop new symptoms or if your existing symptoms worsen.
Also, since the following symptoms may be signs of a ruptured aneurysm, if any of these occur, you should immediately go to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) without delay.
| Emergency! - Go to the ETU immediately! | |
|---|---|
| Symptom | Description |
| Severe, sudden chest or upper back pain | An unbearable pain that feels like a knife stabbing or tearing. |
| Difficulty breathing | Sudden shortness of breath. |
| Dizziness or loss of consciousness | Sudden extreme dizziness or loss of consciousness and falling. |
| Heart palpitations | Feeling like your heart is beating very fast. |
If someone in your family has heart disease or aortic disease, or if you are over 65, talk to your doctor about how to reduce your risk of developing problems with the ascending aorta. Many of these risks can be controlled with proper screening and a healthy lifestyle.
Take-Home Message
- The ascending aorta is the first and most important part of the main and largest blood vessel that starts from our heart.
- This part supplies blood to the heart, as well as the entire body.
- Conditions such as aortic aneurysms can be very dangerous and can be life-threatening if they rupture.
- You can protect your aorta through healthy habits such as a healthy diet, exercise, and avoiding smoking.
- If you experience symptoms such as sudden severe chest pain, back pain, difficulty breathing, or loss of consciousness, consider it an emergency and go to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.
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