GC: n

S: http://www.webmd.com/heart/picture-of-the-aorta (last access: 14 July 2015); http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2761381/ (last access: 14 July 2015).

N: 1. 1570s, from Medieval Latin aorta, from Greek aorte, term applied by Aristotle to the great artery of the heart, literally “what is hung up,” from aeirein “to lift, heave, raise,” which is of uncertain origin; related to the second element in meteor. Used earlier by Hippocrates of the bronchial tubes. Related: Aortal; aortic.
2. aorta, in vertebrates and some invertebrates, the blood vessel (or vessels) carrying blood from the heart to all the organs and other structures of the body.
3. At the opening from the left ventricle into the aorta is a three-part valve that prevents backflow of blood from the aorta into the heart. The aorta emerges from the heart as the ascending aorta, turns to the left and arches over the heart (the aortic arch), and passes downward as the descending aorta. The left and right coronary arteries branch from the ascending aorta to supply the heart muscle.

S: 1. OED – http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=aorta (last access: 14 July 2015). 2 & 3. EncBrit – http://global.britannica.com/science/aorta (last access: 14 July 2015).

SYN:
S:

CR: artery