The aorta is the largest artery in the human body, with a lumen diameter of about 2.5 cm and a wall thickness of about 2 mm. It originates from the left ventricle and has an aortic valve to prevent blood backflow during diastole. The first division of the aorta is the ascending aorta. It gives rise to the right and left coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart muscles. The ascending aorta curves to the left side of the body, forming the aortic arch, and starts to descend. The upper segment of the descending aorta between the T5 and T12 vertebrae is called the thoracic aorta. It supplies blood to the chest, pericardium, lungs, and esophagus. As the descending aorta enters the abdominal cavity, it is called the abdominal aorta. At the L4 vertebral level, the abdominal aorta branches into the left and right common iliac arteries that supply blood to the pelvis and lower limbs. Various other branches of the abdominal aorta deliver blood to the abdominal organs.