Aorta
/eɪˈɔːr.tə/noun
The body’s main artery, carrying blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
Did you know?Ancient Greek physicians named the aorta from a verb meaning “to lift” or “raise,” likely because they viewed it as a vessel rising from the heart.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂wer-
“To raise, lift, or suspend”
Ancient Greek
Greek
aeírō (αἴρω)
“To lift or raise”
Ancient Greek
Greek
aortḗ (ἀορτή)
“The great artery; literally, something lifted or suspended”
1st Century BCE
Latin
aorta
“The principal artery, borrowed from Greek medical terminology”
14th Century
English
aorta
“The great artery leaving the heart”
Modern English
English
aorta
“The main artery carrying blood from the heart throughout the body”