Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Ultrasound Imaging of the Thoracic and Abdominal Aorta in Mice to Determine Aneurysm Dimensions
Published on: March 8, 2019
Diameters of normal thoracic vascular structures in pediatric patients
Hatice Ozturkmen Akay1, Cihan Akgul Ozmen, Aylin Hasanefendioğlu Bayrak
1Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Dicle, 21280, Diyarbakir, Turkey. hozturkmen@gmail.com
Purpose:
To determine the normal range of aortic and pulmonary artery diameters on chest CT, and to search a constant ratio when the diameters of thoracic vascular structures are compared with an internal reference.
Methods:
Contrast-enhanced chest CT scans of 133 pediatric patients were retrospectively evaluated. Diameters of ascending and descending aorta, main pulmonary artery, right and left pulmonary arteries and a constant thoracic vertebra were measured. The mean ratios of thoracic vascular diameters to the diameter of the thoracic vertebra were calculated.
Results:
There was a positive correlation between the age of the patients and vascular diameters. The mean ratios of vascular diameters to the diameter of thoracic vertebra, ranged from 1.1 for the ascending aorta to 0.70 for the right and left pulmonary arteries, were consistent.
Conclusions:
Diameters of thoracic vascular structures increase with age. The consistent vertebral to vessel ratios can be useful in evaluation of chest CT of pediatric patients.
Related Concept Videos
Thoracic Aorta
Anatomy of Blood Vessels
Arteries
Arteries circulate oxygenated blood from the heart, except the pulmonary artery, which transports deoxygenated blood to the lungs. Large arteries, such as the aorta, have...
Arteries and Arterioles
Veins of Thorax
The azygos vein, positioned just right of the midline and anterior to the vertebral column, begins at the junction of the right ascending lumbar and subcostal veins, terminating in the superior vena cava. This vein drains blood from the right side of the thoracic wall, thoracic viscera, and posterior abdominal wall.
The...
The Aorta
The average diameter of the aorta is approximately 2-3 cm, but the size can vary depending on the section of the aorta and the individual's age, sex, and body size. The aorta is...
Venules
Venules are much smaller in diameter compared to their larger counterparts, the veins. They are generally 8 to 100 micrometers in diameter, significantly smaller than the size of veins. The walls of venules are thin, consisting of the endothelium, a thin layer of connective tissue, and occasionally a few smooth muscle cells. This structural simplicity is a stark contrast...