Aortic dissection

Aortic dissection is a tear of the aorta (the largest artery of the body). This tear causes blood to flow between the layers of the wall of the aorta and dissects the layers apart. Aortic dissection is an extremely serious medical emergency and can quickly lead to death.

Overview

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Aortic dissection

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A=Adventitia, M=Media, I=Intima, T=Intimal tear, FL=False lumen, TL=True lumen

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As with all other arteries, the aorta is made up of three layers. The layer that is in direct contact with the flow of blood is the tunica intima, commonly called the intima. This layer is made up of mainly endothelial cells. Just deep to this layer is the tunica media, known as the media. This "middle layer" is made up of smooth muscle cells and elastic tissue. The outermost layer (furthest from the flow of blood) is known as the tunica adventitia or the adventitia. This layer is composed of connective tissue.

Related Topics:
Arteries - Tunica intima - Endothelial cell - Tunica media - Smooth muscle - Tunica adventitia - Connective tissue

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In an aortic dissection, blood penetrates the intima and enters the media layer. The high pressure rips the tissue of the media apart, allowing more blood to enter. This can propagate along the length of the aorta for a variable distance, dissecting either towards or away from the heart or both. The initial tear is usually within 10 cm of the aortic valve.

Related Topics:
Tissue - Heart - Cm - Aortic valve

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The risk in aortic dissection is that the aorta may rupture, leading to massive blood loss resulting in death. Actor John Ritter died in 2003 from this complication of aortic dissection.

Related Topics:
John Ritter - 2003

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