Abdominal Aorta

The aorta is the biggest artery in the body. It begins at the heart, until it exits the diaphragm where it becomes the abdominal aorta. It then splits into the iliac arteries just a little above the belly button, supplying blood flow to your legs.

What were looking for:

This screening will show signs of plaque build up as well as the diameter and size of the abdominal aorta. If the walls of the vessel become weakened, it can cause a "bulge" or "ballooning" of the artery. This condition is called an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), and if not treated could be life threatening. They usually occur just before the aorta splits into the iliac arteries. 
Picture
         Normal Abdominal  Aorta
Picture
     Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm