Anatomy study note · Thorax

Descending thoracic aorta

The part of the aorta in the posterior mediastinum, from the lower border of T4 to the aortic opening of the diaphragm at T12, where it becomes the abdominal aorta.

Key points

• T4 (sternal angle) → T12 (aortic opening).
• Posterior mediastinum, on the left then in front of the vertebrae.
• Branches: posterior intercostals (3–11), subcostal, bronchial, oesophageal, pericardial.
• Descending aorta: left dorsal aorta + fused dorsal aortae.
• Elastic artery: 40–70 fenestrated elastic membranes in the media.
• Damps the pressure pulse.

The full note in the atlas also covers

Course · Branches · Histology · Development

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Written from

• Snell’s Clinical Anatomy by Regions, 10th ed., ch. 5, PDF pp. 584, 644–645
• Inderbir Singh’s Human Embryology, ch. 15, PDF pp. 250, 256
• BRS Cell Biology & Histology, 7th ed., ch. 11, PDF pp. 197–200

More from the thorax

• Diaphragm
• Esophagus
• First rib
• Heart
• Intercostal arteries
• Intercostal muscles
• Intercostal nerves
• Internal thoracic artery
• Internal thoracic vein
• Interventricular septum
• Joints of the ribs
• Left atrium

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