The ascending aorta is the first portion of the aorta. The aorta is the largest artery in the human body and the main artery of systemic circulation, providing the whole body with oxygenated blood.

The ascending aorta arises from the base of the left ventricle at the aortic orifice. The aortic valve separates the ascending aorta from the left ventricle. The ascending aorta arises approximately at the lower border of the third left costal cartilage behind the left half of the sternal body. It goes obliquely upward, anterior and slightly to the right side.

The ascending aorta is relatively short - only about 2 inches (5 cm) long. However, it is the widest part of the aorta - its diameter is approximately 1.2 inches (3 cm). It continues as the aortic arch (Read more!) at the upper border of the second right costal cartilage.

The ascending aorta is located within the pericardium. Therefore, it is positioned in the middle mediastinum. It has two parts:

Aortic root - the first portion that extends from the aortic valve, it includes the aortic sinuses and sinotubular junction (a site where the sinuses end and ascending aorta converts into its tube shape);
Tubular ascending aorta - the second portion that extends from the sinotubular junction to the aortic arch.

Immediately above the aortic valve, the aortic wall has three small anatomic dilatation known as aortic or coronary sinuses (sinuses of Valsalva).

The right coronary artery and left coronary artery are the only branches of the ascending aorta, and they arise from the right coronary sinus and left coronary sinus, respectively. The third aortic sinus is called the non-coronary sinus, as it does not give rise to any vessels. As mentioned before, the coronary arteries are responsible for supplying the heart walls with oxygenated blood.

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Ascending aorta