The aorta is the largest artery in your body, the main pipeline that carries oxygen-rich blood from your heart to the rest of your body. Every time your heart beats, it pumps blood into the aorta, which then branches into smaller arteries that deliver blood to your organs, muscles, and tissues.

Think of the aorta like the main water pipe leaving a water treatment plant: it's thick, strong, and built to handle enormous pressure. The aorta is about as wide as a garden hose and curves up from the top of your heart like an upside-down cane before heading down through your chest and abdomen.

Without a healthy aorta, your body couldn't get the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function. Doctors pay close attention to the aorta because problems with it can be serious. The aorta's walls are muscular and elastic, designed to stretch slightly with each heartbeat and then spring back, helping keep blood flowing smoothly throughout your entire body. When you feel your pulse at your wrist, you're feeling the wave of pressure that started in your aorta with each beat of your heart.