Abdominal aorta

Abdominal aorta

It is a continuation of the thoracic aorta below the diaphragmatic opening in
midline opposite the lower border of T12

Termination - it terminates at the lower border of L4 by dividing into two CIA

Extent - from T12 to L4

Course - it descends downwards in front of L1 to L4 it lies slightly left to the
midline.

Relations -
Anterior -
1. Coeliac artery with coeliac plexus
2. SMA
3. Lt renal vein
4. Body of the pancreas with splenic vein
5.Gonadal arteries
6.Parietal peritoneum
7.Root of mesentery

Posterior

1. Bodies of upper 4 vertebrae
2. Lt lumbar veins 
3. Lt psoa major 

To the RT

1. Sympathetic chain
2. Rt crus of the diaphragm 
3. Azygos vein 
4. Lumbar lymph nodes 

To the Lt

1. Lt crus
2. Pancreas 
3. 4th part of the duodenum
4. IMA & IMV 

Branches

A. Paired

1. Inferior phrenic artery
2. Middle suprarenal
3. Renal
4. Gonadal
5. Common iliac artery

B. Unpaired

1. Coeliac trunk
2. SMA 
3. IMA
4. Median sacral artery 

Applied anatomy

1. In thin individual abdominal aorta can be palpated & auscultated
2. Coarctation of the aorta is fatal

Other Diagrams