Aortic dissection

The aorta is the largest artery, originating directly from the left ventricle of the heart, and is the source of the entire arterial system in the human body. Aortic dissection is a critical and life-threatening condition caused by various etiologies that lead to increased pressure or structural changes in the aortic wall. This results in a tear in the intimal layer of the vessel, allowing high-velocity, high-pressure blood flow to dissect the intima from the media, and enter the aortic wall.