Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)

The aorta is the main blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. It extends from the chest to the abdomen, where it branches into the iliac arteries. The iliac arteries carry blood to lower parts of the body and to the legs. Sometimes with aging or other changes, a section of the aorta may weaken and begin to bulge. This bulge can enlarge over time as the walls of the aorta become thinner and stretch (like a balloon). This bulge in the aorta is called an aneurysm. Sometimes an aneurysm occurs in the part of the aorta that runs through the abdomen (the stomach). This is called an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

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