Aorta

Locate the aorta, the largest systemic artery of the body. It leaves the left ventricle, curves to the left, dorsal to the pulmonary artery, and continues dorsally in a posterior direction along the left side of the vertebral column. The proximal curved portion of the aorta is called the aortic arch, while the next segment of the aorta within the thorax is known as he thoracic aorta.