The Circulatory System

The aorta is the main trunk of a series of vessels which convey the oxygenated blood to the tissues of the body for their nutrition.

• The aorta is the main trunk of a series of vessels which convey the oxygenated blood to the tissues of the body for their nutrition.
• The aorta leaves the heart and travels toward the head.
• The arteries that take the blood to the head are located on something called the aortic arch.

Ascending aorta-is about 5 cm. in length. It commences at the upper part of the base of the left ventricle.

• Ascending aorta-is about 5 cm. in length. It commences at the upper part of the base of the left ventricle.
• Descending aorta-goes behind the heart and down the center of the body.

Aortic trauma is most common in motor vehicle and

• Aortic trauma is most common in motor vehicle and
• motorcycle accidents of significant severity. Motor vehicle
• accidents in which aortic injury should be suspected include
• those in which:
• Rollover of the vehicle occurs
• A fatality is involved
• A person is ejected from the vehicle
• The vehicle sustains a dent of more than 12 inches
• A prolonged period of time was required to extricate the victim from the vehicle
• The jaws of life are used
• A pedestrian is struck by a car going more than 20 miles per hour