The aorta stems from the heart, arches upward, and then extends down behind the heart and through the chest (thorax) and the abdomen areas. The aorta then branches out and becomes the iliac arteries, which provide blood to the pelvis and legs.
| By | Healthwise Staff |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | David A. Szalay, MD - Vascular Surgery |
| Last Revised | January 26, 2010 |
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