Ascending Aorta

The ascending aorta is a portion of the aorta commencing at the upper part of the base of the left ventricle, on a level with the lower border of the third costal cartilage behind the left half of the sternum; it passes obliquely upward, forward, and to the right, in the direction of the heart’s axis, as high as the upper border of the second right costal cartilage, describing a slight curve in its course, and being situated, about 6 centimetres (2.4 in) behind the posterior surface of the sternum. The total length is about 5 centimetres (2.0 in).

Read more about Ascending Aorta:  Components, Relations, Branches, Additional Images

Famous quotes containing the word ascending:

    Life seems to be an experience in ascending and descending. You think you’re beginning to live for a single aim—for self-development, or the discovery of cosmic truths—when all you’re really doing is to move from place to place as if devoted primarily to real estate.
    Margaret Anderson (1886–1973)