Trunk vessels (aorta, vena cava, abdominal branches)
Thoracic aorta
Aorta thoracica (Pars thoracica aortae)
- Origin
- Continuous with the aortic arch at the lower border of T4 vertebra in the posterior mediastinum
- Insertion
- Descends along the left anterior aspect of the thoracic spine, passing through the aortic hiatus of the diaphragm (T12 level) to become the abdominal aorta
- Function
- Supplies systemic arterial blood to the thoracic wall (posterior intercostal arteries), bronchial tree, esophagus, pericardium, and mediastinum
- Innervation
- Thoracic aortic sympathetic plexus
- Movement & chain
- High-pressure pulsatile blood flow
- Palpation
- Not palpated directly
- Clinical
- Stanford type B aortic dissection (distal to left subclavian origin; managed medically or via TEVAR), thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA), traumatic aortic transection at the aortic isthmus, coarctation of the aorta.
- Segmental innervation
- T4-T12 levels (interscapular tearing back pain)
- In clinical practice
- Strict blood pressure control (SBP 100-120 mmHg) using IV antihypertensives, neurovascular monitoring of lower extremities and spinal cord perfusion post-TEVAR
- Region in the model
- Trunk vessels (aorta, vena cava, abdominal branches)