The Heart
The aorta is the largest artery in the body. It extends upward from the left ventricle of the heart, arches over the heart to the left, and descends just in front of the spinal column. The first portion of the aorta is the "ascending aorta," which branches into the "arch of the aorta." Three major arteries originate from the aortic arch: the "brachiocephalic artery," which supplies blood to the brain and head; the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery.
Internally, the heart is divided into four hollow chambers, two on the left and two on the right. The upper chambers, called "atria," have relatively thin walls and receive blood returning through the veins. The right atrium receives blood from two la
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