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Aortic Aneurysm Picture
An aortic aneurysm is the dilatation (widening or bulge) of a portion of the aorta,
usually at a weak spot in the aortic wall. The aorta is the largest artery in the body. It
carries all the blood that is pumped out of the heart and distributes it, via its many
branches, to all the organs of the body. The aorta projects upwards from the heart in the
chest and then arches downwards, travelling through the chest (the thoracic aorta) and
into the abdomen (the abdominal aorta). The normal diameter of the abdominal aorta is
about one inch. |