Aorta

The aorta is the main artery of the body, originating from the left ventricle of the heart and extending down through the chest and abdomen before splitting into the two common iliac arteries at roughly the level of the navel. In abdominal ultrasound, the aorta is a structure that sonographers routinely evaluate, measuring its diameter and looking for signs of aneurysm, dissection, or atherosclerotic disease. The normal diameter of the abdominal aorta is generally less than 3 centimeters, and it gradually tapers as it travels downward. Doppler ultrasound can also be used to assess flow patterns within the aorta and detect conditions like coarctation or stenosis.