Aorta: The largest blood vessel in the body, which begins at the base of the heart and ends in the pelvis. It divides into the iliac and femoral arteries that supplies blood to the lower body. As the aorta travels throughout the body, it branches out to supply blood to organs in the chest and abdomen.
Aneurysm: An abnormal enlargement or dilation of the aorta at least twice the normal size of the aorta. The size of the normal aorta is in the range of 2.0-2.5 cm, depending on anatomical location, gender, body mass and age.
Thoracic aorta: The aorta that is located within the chest cavity and is above the diaphragm.
Abdominal aorta: The aorta located in the abdomen and below the diaphragm.
Aortic repair/replacement: The removal and replacement with a synthetic tube graft of a segment of diseased aorta (aneurysm). A segment of aorta can be can be covered and repaired by an endovascular stent.
Aortic ulceration: A diffuse atherosclerotic disease process occurring in patients with high blood pressure. The ulcer can penetrate the aortic wall to a varying depth, however the ulcer will usually reach the muscular layer (tunica media). Intramural hematomas and dissections can develop as a result of ulceration. Full thickness ulceration can occur developing into pseudoaneurysm and free perforation of the aortic wall.
Pseudoaneurysm: A disruption of the two inner layers or all layers of the aortic wall and containment by contiguous tissues and/or blood clot.
Bicuspid aortic valve: A genetically abnormal valve with two leaflets as opposed to three leaflets.
Acute aortic dissection: A tear in the intimal layer (inner layer) of the aorta creating a false channel (lumen) allowing blood to travel through the medial layer.
Chronic aortic dissection: An aorta with an intimal tear and false lumen persisting after 2 weeks of the acute dissection.
Mycotic (infected) aneurysm: An aortic aneurysm that develops secondary to direct invasion by microorganism causing weakening of the aortic wall. The infection may spread through the bloodstream and then invade an arterial wall at a distant site.
Marfan syndrome: An autosomal dominant genetic disorder manifested in a deficiency in fibrillin-1, a component of connective tissue. Patients have a multitude of clinical manifestations: retinal detachment, skeletal abnormalities, aortic aneurysms, mitral valve prolapse, pectus abnormalities, and nervous system problems related to the dura.
Thoracic endovascular aortic stenting (TEVAR): A minimally invasive approach to repair thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection with a synthetic tube reinforced with a fine metallic mesh. The stent is usually delivered from the femoral arteries.
Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm: An aneurysm that begins along the descending aorta and extends into the abdomen. The Crawford classification is commonly used to describe the extent of the aneurysm.
Aneurysm: An abnormal enlargement or dilation of the aorta at least twice the normal size of the aorta. The size of the normal aorta is in the range of 2.0-2.5 cm, depending on anatomical location, gender, body mass and age.
Thoracic aorta: The aorta that is located within the chest cavity and is above the diaphragm.
Abdominal aorta: The aorta located in the abdomen and below the diaphragm.
Aortic repair/replacement: The removal and replacement with a synthetic tube graft of a segment of diseased aorta (aneurysm). A segment of aorta can be can be covered and repaired by an endovascular stent.
Aortic ulceration: A diffuse atherosclerotic disease process occurring in patients with high blood pressure. The ulcer can penetrate the aortic wall to a varying depth, however the ulcer will usually reach the muscular layer (tunica media). Intramural hematomas and dissections can develop as a result of ulceration. Full thickness ulceration can occur developing into pseudoaneurysm and free perforation of the aortic wall.
Pseudoaneurysm: A disruption of the two inner layers or all layers of the aortic wall and containment by contiguous tissues and/or blood clot.
Bicuspid aortic valve: A genetically abnormal valve with two leaflets as opposed to three leaflets.
Acute aortic dissection: A tear in the intimal layer (inner layer) of the aorta creating a false channel (lumen) allowing blood to travel through the medial layer.
Chronic aortic dissection: An aorta with an intimal tear and false lumen persisting after 2 weeks of the acute dissection.
Mycotic (infected) aneurysm: An aortic aneurysm that develops secondary to direct invasion by microorganism causing weakening of the aortic wall. The infection may spread through the bloodstream and then invade an arterial wall at a distant site.
Marfan syndrome: An autosomal dominant genetic disorder manifested in a deficiency in fibrillin-1, a component of connective tissue. Patients have a multitude of clinical manifestations: retinal detachment, skeletal abnormalities, aortic aneurysms, mitral valve prolapse, pectus abnormalities, and nervous system problems related to the dura.
Thoracic endovascular aortic stenting (TEVAR): A minimally invasive approach to repair thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection with a synthetic tube reinforced with a fine metallic mesh. The stent is usually delivered from the femoral arteries.
Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm: An aneurysm that begins along the descending aorta and extends into the abdomen. The Crawford classification is commonly used to describe the extent of the aneurysm.
