Aorta: The aorta, the body's largest artery, originates from the heart's left ventricle. It ascends slightly, forms an arch, and then descends through both the chest and abdomen until it splits into two arteries known as the common iliac arteries, which supply blood to the legs. Anatomically, the aorta is divided into three main sections: the ascending aorta, the aortic arch, and the descending aorta. The descending aorta is further categorized into the thoracic aorta, which travels through the chest, and the abdominal aorta, which passes through the abdomen. Branches of the aorta supply oxygen-rich blood to the head, neck, arms, major organs in the chest and abdomen, and legs. It acts as the main pathway for blood from the heart to the rest of the body.

CPR Certification Labs provides hands-on, American Heart Association–aligned CPR, BLS, ACLS, and PALS certification training to help providers master these life-saving skills.