The aorta is the thickest artery in the human body.
Understanding the Aorta
The aorta is the body's largest artery. It's a high-pressure vessel directly receiving oxygenated blood from the left ventricle of the heart. This forceful expulsion of blood requires the aorta to have thick, strong walls to withstand the constant pressure. 7.4: Blood Vessels - Biology LibreTexts Its thickness is crucial for maintaining blood pressure and efficient distribution of blood throughout the body.
Many sources confirm the aorta's thickness. For example, Artery - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics states that arteries have relatively thick walls to handle high blood pressure, and the aorta, being the main artery, exemplifies this. Furthermore, discussions about arterial wall thickness and cardiovascular risk often cite the aorta implicitly or explicitly. Artery wall thickness useful in detecting heart risk - PMC
While other arteries have thick walls, especially larger ones, none surpass the aorta's overall thickness due to its vital role and the high volume of blood it carries. The thickness of the arterial wall itself is primarily determined by the tunica media, the middle layer, composed of smooth muscle and elastic fibers. Classification & Structure of Blood Vessels - SEER Training This layer is thicker in arteries compared to veins because it needs to accommodate and regulate the higher pressure of blood flow away from the heart.
