aorta

[ ey-awr-tuh ]

/ eɪˈɔr tə /

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noun, plural a·or·tas, a·or·tae

[ey-awr-tee]. /eɪˈɔr ti/. Anatomy.

the main trunk of the arterial system, conveying blood from the left ventricle of the heart to all of the body except the lungs.

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Origin of aorta

1570–80; <Medieval Latin <Greek aortḗ the great artery, literally, something hung, carried; akin to aeírein to lift, carry

OTHER WORDS FROM aorta

a·or·tic, a·or·tal, adjectivepost·a·or·tic, adjectivepre·a·or·tic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use aorta in a sentence

The 17-year-old had been standing on a third-floor balcony when a stray bullet hit her in the back, lodging in the muscle between her lungs and aorta.
The apps keeping Rio’s residents safe from stray bullets|Niall Firth|November 26, 2020|MIT Technology Review
The hard work began after Walters had her aortic valve replaced with one from a cow.
Barbara Walters Opens Up About Her Heart Surgery|Howard Kurtz|February 2, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Doctors there performed a 20-hour surgery in an attempt to repair his aortic dissection.
What Killed Richard Holbrooke?|Casey Schwartz|December 14, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Even though he underwent an aortic valve replacement in 2008, he insists he has no intention of retiring anytime soon.
Jim Lehrer's Cross-Country Fantasy|Sandra McElwaine|April 24, 2010|DAILY BEAST

The mandibular aortic arch is situated close to its inner side, Pl.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume 1|Francis Maitland Balfour
At this stage there is visible a single aortic trunk passing forwards from the embryo and dividing into two branches.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume 1|Francis Maitland Balfour
The aortic branches to the bodies are larger than in the previous stage, and the bodies themselves fairly vascular.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume 1|Francis Maitland Balfour
These rods are the rudiments of the aortic branches to which the suprarenal bodies are eventually attached.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume 1|Francis Maitland Balfour
Von Baer saw what had escaped Rathke and Huschke, that there were, not three nor four, but as many as five aortic arches.
Form and Function|E. S. (Edward Stuart) Russell

British Dictionary definitions for aorta

aorta

/ (eɪˈɔːtə) /

noun plural -tas or -tae (-tiː)

the main vessel in the arterial network, which conveys oxygen-rich blood from the heart to all parts of the body except the lungs

Derived forms of aorta

aortic or aortal, adjective

Word Origin for aorta

C16: from New Latin, from Greek aortē, literally: something lifted, from aeirein to raise

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for aorta

aorta

[ ā-ôr′tə ]

n. pl. a•or•tas

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.

Other words from aorta

a•or′tal null adj.

Scientific definitions for aorta

aorta

[ ā-ôr′tə ]

Plural aortas aortae (ā-ôr′tē)

The main artery of the circulatory system, arising from the left ventricle of the heart in mammals and birds and carrying blood with high levels of oxygen to all the arteries of the body except those of the lungs.

Cultural definitions for aorta

aorta

[ (ay-awr-tuh) ]

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.)