Your aorta is a tube-like structure that resembles a candy cane. The ascending aorta forms the beginning or handle of the cane and originates at the aortic valve. The ascending aorta includes the ...

The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body. It leaves the heart and forms an arch. The arch’s downward portion, called the descending aorta, is connected to a network of arteries that supplies ...

Ascending aortic aneurysms are a subtype of thoracic aneurysms, which occur in the chest area. They affect thousands of Americans annually and can be life threatening if not monitored. An aneurysm is ...

A ruptured ascending aortic aneurysm -- the reported cause of death of American soccer writer Grant Wahl -- is a rare but deadly medical condition. "Grant died from the rupture of a slowly growing, ...

Thoracic aortic dissection occurs when the intima of the aorta becomes compromised and “tears” or “dissects” a new layer that fills with blood between the intima and the media. This “false lumen” can ...

Ascending thoracic aortic disease is an important cause of sudden death in the U.S., yet most aortic aneurysms are identified incidentally. To improve assessment of patients who may be at risk for ...

An aortic dissection is a tear in one of the layers of the aorta. The aorta is your body’s largest blood vessel. Your aorta is made up of three layers. When a hole or tear forms in one of these layers ...