What is aortitis? Aortitis is a condition where the aorta is inflamed. It is a form of vasculitis – inflammation of a blood vessel. More correctly, it is known as arteritis because the inflammation affects an artery. While every type of vasculitis has clinical implications, aortitis may be very serious due to the importance of the aorta in blood circulation. It compromises the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the entire body to some extent or the other and can therefore have devastating implications. Overall, aortitis is not a common condition but when it does occur, it can be life threatening even in mild cases. Aortitis Pathophysiology Anatomy and function The aorta is the largest artery in the human body. It arises from the left ventricle of the heart where it carries oxygen-rich blood recently received from the lungs. The aorta has several branches which carries this oxygenated blood to the entire body. In order to perform its functions, the aorta has a thick wall which is elastic. The thickness provides strength to withstand the high pressure of blood being pushed out of the heart. The elasticity provides recoil where it initially stretches and then ‘snaps’ back to its position to … Continue reading Aortitis (Inflamed Aorta)