Ascending Aorta

The ascending aorta is the portion of the aorta commencing at the upper part of the left ventricle (at about the level of the lower border of the third costal cartilage) behind the left half of the sternum. It passes obliquely upward, forward, and to the right in the direction of the heart’s axis, reaching as high as the upper border of the second right costal cartilage. It has a slight curvature in its course and is situated about 6 cm (2.4 in) behind the posterior surface of the sternum. The total length is about 5 cm (2.0 in).

The only branches of the ascending aorta are the two coronary arteries, which supply the heart. They arise near the commencement of the aorta from the aortic sinuses, which are opposite the aortic valves.