Final answer:
Aortic dissection is a medical emergency involving a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, which may lead to restricted blood flow and rupture. It is often associated with underlying atherosclerosis and conditions like aortic stenosis and coarctation of the aorta. The aorta is the largest artery and extends from the heart to the lower abdomen, where it divides into smaller arteries.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pathophysiology behind aortic dissection involves a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, allowing blood to surge through this tear into the middle layers of the aorta, creating a new false channel and separating the layers of the aortic wall. This can result in compromised blood flow and rupture, which is often fatal. Factors that contribute to the risk of aortic dissection include underlying atherosclerosis, hypertension, and genetic conditions such as Marfan syndrome. Aortic dissection can present with sudden severe chest or back pain, and prompt diagnosis is critical for survival. Treatment typically involves surgical intervention to repair the dissected aorta or endovascular stent placement. Conditions such as aortic stenosis and coarctation of the aorta are associated cardiovascular diseases affecting the aorta. Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the aortic valve, which compels the heart to work harder to pump blood through the tight space, eventually leading to heart failure. Coarctation of the aorta is a congenital narrowing of the aorta that restricts blood flow and can be life-threatening; it is typically treated with surgery or angioplasty. The aorta itself is the largest artery in the body, starting from the left ventricle and running down to bifurcate into the two common iliac arteries. It includes the ascending aorta, aortic arch, and descending aorta, which is divided into the thoracic aorta above and the abdominal aorta below the diaphragm.