An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a potentially fatal abnormal swelling (often balloon-like) of a segment of the body's largest artery, the aorta. The side wall of the artery bulges out rather than remaining straight.
The aorta carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to smaller arteries throughout the body. An abdominal aneurysm occurs in the abdominal aorta, the part of the aorta between the bottom of the chest and the pelvis.
Normally, the aorta is about one inch (2.5 centimeters)...
Read moreSource: HealthCentral Encyclopedia
Article updated and reviewed by Neil Siecke, MD, Clinical Insturctor, UCSD Division of Cardiology on July, 28 2005.An aortic aneurysm is a weak spot... Read more »
Source: ADAM Encyclopedia
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is when the large blood vessel that supplies blood to the abdomen, pelvis, and legs becomes abnormally large or balloons... Read more »
Source: ADAM Encyclopedia
An aneurysm is an abnormal widening or ballooning of a portion of an artery due to weakness in the wall of the blood vessel.A thoracic aortic... Read more »
Rudy Boesch, a participant on “Survivor” and former Navy Seal, was nearly stricken by AAA, but an inadvertent detection allowed him to receive... Read more »
Source: HealthCentral Encyclopedia
Narrowing of the aortic valve in the heart.The aortic valve controls blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta and the rest of the body. It... Read more »