| pseudocoarctation of the aorta | A rare abnormality of the arch of the aorta that constricts that vessel but is not a true coarctation in that there is no significant encroachment on the lumen. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| shaggy aorta | A colloquial but fitting description for severe arterial degeneration of the aorta, the surface of which is extremely friable and likely to cause atheroembolism. (05 Mar 2000) |
| descending aorta | A part of the aorta, further divided into the thoracic aorta and the abdominal aorta. Synonym: pars descendens aortae, aorta descendens, descending part of aorta. (05 Mar 2000) |
| descending part of aorta | A part of the aorta, further divided into the thoracic aorta and the abdominal aorta. Synonym: pars descendens aortae, aorta descendens, descending part of aorta. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dissecting thoracic aorta | <surgery> A condition in which a weakened portion of the thoracic aorta begins to tear along the longitudinal axis of the vessel. Symptoms include sudden, severe chest pain that may radiate to the back accompanied by nausea, sweating and difficulty breathing. A common risk factor for this event is atherosclerotic vascular disease and-or hypertension. Advanced cases of syphilis (syphilitic aortitis) can also result in acute thoracic dissection as a complication of infection with Treponema pallidum. (11 Jan 1998) |
| isthmus of aorta | A slight constriction of the aorta immediately distal to the left subclavian artery at the point of attachment of the ductus arteriosus. Synonym: isthmus aortae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oesophageal branches of the thoracic aorta | Branches arising directly from the anterior aspect of the portion of the thoracic aorta adjacent to the oesophagus, by which most of the oesophagus is supplied. Synonym: rami oesophageales aortae thoracicae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| overriding aorta | A congenitally malpositioned aorta whose origin straddles the ventricular septum and so receives ejected blood from the right ventricle as well as from the left; it is found especially in tetralogy of Fallot. (05 Mar 2000) |
| thoracic aorta | The part of the descending aorta that supplies structures as far down as the diaphragm. Synonym: pars thoracica aortae, aorta thoracica, thoracic part of aorta. (05 Mar 2000) |
| thoracic part of aorta | The part of the descending aorta that supplies structures as far down as the diaphragm. Synonym: pars thoracica aortae, aorta thoracica, thoracic part of aorta. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tortuous aorta | <radiology> Hypertension, aortic insufficiency (not AS), coarctation, cystic medial necrosis (Marfan, Ehlers-Danlos, homocystinuria), premature atherosclerosis (chronic renal disease, hypercholesterolaemia) (12 Dec 1998) |
| kinked aorta | Distortion, often with slight narrowing, of the aortic arch at the level of insertion of the ligamentum arteriosum. Synonym: buckled aorta, kinked aorta. (05 Mar 2000) |