From heart to toe – your aorta explained
Aortic Nurse Emma Hope takes us on an accessible journey through the aorta — what it is, how it works, the different parts of the aorta and some of the conditions that can affect it.
The M1 of your vascular system
What exactly is the aorta, where does it go and why is it so important?
In this talk from our 2026 Annual Patient Event, Emma Hope, Aortic Nurse, provides a patient-friendly introduction to the largest blood vessel in the body.
Emma describes the aorta as the “M1 of our body's vascular system”: beginning at the heart and carrying oxygen-rich blood through the chest and abdomen, with arteries branching from it to supply the organs, head, arms and legs. Pasted text
Using this road network analogy, Emma explains the different sections of the aorta — from the aortic root and ascending aorta, around the aortic arch and down through the descending and abdominal aorta.
In this talk
- Speaker: Emma Hope, Aortic Nurse
- Event: Annual Patient Event 2026, Birmingham
- Duration: 25:09
- Topics: The Aorta · Aortic Anatomy · Aneurysm · Aortic Dissection · Type A & Type B · Aortic Conditions
More than just a pipe
Emma explains that the aorta isn't simply a tube carrying blood around the body. Its wall is made up of three layers, each with a different role, allowing the aorta to cope with the pressure and pulsation created by every heartbeat.
She also tackles a surprisingly common question: how big is the aorta? Using a drinking straw, hosepipe and drainpipe for comparison, Emma demonstrates that a healthy adult aorta is typically around 2–3cm across, although its normal size varies according to factors including the part of the aorta being measured and an individual's body size.
What can go wrong with the aorta?
The second part of the talk introduces some of the conditions that can affect the aorta.
Emma explains aneurysms, atherosclerosis, penetrating aortic ulcers, genetic aortopathies, aortitis and intramural haematoma before turning to Aortic Dissection — explaining how a tear can allow blood to pass between the layers of the aortic wall.
She then explains the differences between Type A, Type B and non-A non-B Aortic Dissection, and introduces the term Acute Aortic Syndrome, which encompasses a group of serious aortic conditions requiring specialist assessment.
Watch the full talk
Whether you are living with an aortic condition, supporting someone who is, or simply want to understand more about this vital part of the body, Emma's presentation provides an approachable introduction to the aorta and some of the conditions that can affect it.
This presentation was recorded at the Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland Annual Patient Event 2026, held in Birmingham on 18 September 2026.
