AORTA, in Anatomy, an Artery, which arises immediately out of the left Ventricle of the Heart; and is distributed thence through all Parts of the Body. See ARTERY and HEART. The Aorta is otherwise called the great Artery; as being the Trunk, out of which the other Arteries all spring; and the great Conduit or Canal whereby the Blood is conveyed throughout the Body. See BLOOD and CIRCULATION. The Word is formed of the Greek ἀορτή, which signifies a Vessel, Chest, etc. The Aorta is divided into two grand Trunks, called the Ascending and Descending Aorta, ascendens and descendens. See ASCENDING and DESCENDING. Ossifications, or Petrifications of the Coats of the Aorta at its rise from the Heart, are so frequent, that some think it a constant Case—Mr. Cooper, however, has an express Discourse to show that whenever such Ossification happens in Man, it is a Disease, and incommodes the Part in the due Execution of its Office. Of this he gives us several Instances; one, in which an Intermittence of Pulse was produced; in another, a Coldness of the Extremes with a Gangrene, etc. Phil. Transact. No. 299.
