Aortic Root
Aorta | Aortic Valve | Aortic Root | Ascending Aorta | Aortic Arch | Descending Aorta | Abdominal Aorta
The aortic root, the first part of the aorta, begins just above the top of the main pumping chamber of the heart (the left ventricle).
This valve prevents blood pumped out of the heart from leaking (or regurgitating) back into the heart when the heart relaxes. The coronary arteries allow blood and oxygen to flow to myocardium (the heart muscle).
The valvular apparatus of the aorta begins at the aortic annulus and extends to the sinotubular junction. Most commonly between each commissure of the aortic valve and opposite the cusps of the aortic valve, there are three small dilatations called the aortic sinuses. The sinotubular junction is the point in the ascending aorta where the aortic sinuses end and the aorta becomes a tubular structure.
In aortic disease The valve may become leaky (aka regurgutant) as a result of enlargement (or dilatation) of the aortic annulus. This may also result from structural defects in the valve leaflets. Conversely, the valve may become narrowed (or stenotic) resulting in the restriction blood flow.
- The root of the aorta includes:
- the aortic valve
- the aortic annulus, where the valve is attached
- the sinotubular junction
- the origin of the coronary arteries.
This valve prevents blood pumped out of the heart from leaking (or regurgitating) back into the heart when the heart relaxes. The coronary arteries allow blood and oxygen to flow to myocardium (the heart muscle).
The valvular apparatus of the aorta begins at the aortic annulus and extends to the sinotubular junction. Most commonly between each commissure of the aortic valve and opposite the cusps of the aortic valve, there are three small dilatations called the aortic sinuses. The sinotubular junction is the point in the ascending aorta where the aortic sinuses end and the aorta becomes a tubular structure.
In aortic disease The valve may become leaky (aka regurgutant) as a result of enlargement (or dilatation) of the aortic annulus. This may also result from structural defects in the valve leaflets. Conversely, the valve may become narrowed (or stenotic) resulting in the restriction blood flow.
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