How the Heart Works: The Aorta

The aorta is the large artery leaving the heart that supplies blood full of oxygen to the body.

It may be helpful to think of the aorta as a big hose coming out of the heart to supply the different parts of the body with oxygenated blood, that is fresh and high in oxygen. As that hose (Aorta) leaves the left ventricle it first gives a branch to go to the right arm (Right Subclavian Artery) and to the right side of the head and neck (Right Common Carotid Artery). Then a second branch supplies the left side of the head and neck (Left Common Carotid) and then gives a final branch called the Left Subclavian Artery which supplies the left arm, The hose (Aorta) then turns downwards to become the descending aorta which supply blood to the lower part of the body.