The aorta is the main artery of the body. It leaves the thoracic cavity behind the posterior portion of the diaphragm just below the 12th thoracic vertebra. Either directly from major branches or indirectly via secondary arteries, it supplies oxygenated blood to all of the intra-abdominal organs, the muscles, fat, subcutaneous tissue and skin of the abdomen.
Inferior Phrenic Arteries
The paired inferior phrenic arteries leave the aorta just inferior to the diaphragm and supply it with blood.
Celiac Axis
The first major branch of the abdominal aorta is the celiac axis or trunk, which lies superior to the pancreas. It immediately branches into three large vessels, the left gastric, splenic and hepatic arteries.
Superior Mesenteric Artery
The superior mesenteric artery comes off the aorta just inferior to the pancreas. It supplies the entire small intestine and the proximal half of the large intestine via the mesenteric branches, the ileocolic, right colic and middle colic arteries.
Adrenal Arteries
The paired adrenal arteries supply blood to the adrenal glands, which lie just above each kidney.
Renal Arteries
The paired renal arteries supply blood to the kidneys. There are often variations in the number of renal arteries to each kidney.
Gonadal (Testicular or Ovarian) Arteries
The gonadal--testicular or ovarian--arteries leave the aorta separately below the renal arteries.
Inferior Mesenteric Artery
The inferior mesenteric artery branches toward the left lower abdomen and carries blood to the left side of the transverse colon, the descending and sigmoid colons and the upper part of the rectum.
Lumbar Arteries
Lumbar arteries leave the aorta posteriorly and supply blood to the spine and muscles of the posterior abdomen and back. There are usually four pairs of lumbar arteries arising from the aorta.
Middle (Median) Sacral Artery
The middle--median--sacral artery is a small vessel at the very end of the aorta. It supplies muscles in the spine.
Iliac Arteries
The abdominal aorta terminates by dividing into the two common iliac arteries. The internal iliac branches supply the pelvis, rectum, uterus (in females) and muscles of the buttocks. The external iliac arteries become the common femoral arteries as they pass under the inguinal ligaments. They supply the legs with blood.
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