Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 4, 2026

Author Spotlight: Using Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Comprehensive Evaluation of the Abdominal Aorta
Published on: September 8, 2023
Positional relationships of abdominal aorta landmarks for angiography: observations from the intravascular space
Tetsuya Takahashi1, Kyoko Takeuchi, Toshitaka Ito
1Department of Anatomy, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8402, Japan, takatetsuya@aioros.ocn.ne.jp.
Purpose:
To clarify the positional relationships of abdominal aorta (Ao) landmarks by way of observations from the intravascular space to facilitate angiography.
Methods:
A total of 95 donated Japanese cadavers were observed. We excluded 32 cadavers with anatomical variation at the celiac trunk (CT) or superior mesenteric artery (SMA), with flexure exceeding 5° in the aorta located cranially to the renal artery (RA), and with flexure exceeding 60° in the aorta located caudal to the RA. The maximum longitudinal diameter of the left (Lt.) RA was measured and the Ao was incised by frontal section to acquire photographs of the intravascular space. The inner diameter of the Ao at the Lt. RA level was investigated. The distances between the inferior borders of the CT, SMA, and Lt. RA were also used as the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle. Lines parallel to the longitudinal diameter of the Ao and those parallel to the transverse diameter of the right-angled triangle were measured by a computer, and expressed as relative distance indexes using the transverse diameter of the aorta at the Lt. RA level as a reference point. The angle between the transverse axis of the Ao and the line connecting the CT to the SMA was also investigated.
Results:
The mean diameter of the aorta was 20.6 ± 2.0 mm. The indexes between each blood vessel (longitudinal/transverse) were as follows: Lt. RA to CT 1.69/0.41, Lt. RA to SMA 0.86/0.51, and CT to SMA 0.82/0.13. The mean angle between the transverse axis of the Ao and CT to SMA was 81.9° ± 9.5°.
Conclusion:
These indexes should contribute to improving skills for workers new to angiography, and may reduce patient risk.
Related Concept Videos
Abdominal Aorta
The celiac trunk, a singular artery, divides into the left gastric artery, which...
Thoracic Aorta
Aneurysm II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
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...
Anastomoses
Anastomoses can be formed at arterial, venous, and lymphatic vessels.
Arterial Anastomosis: These occur between arteries. They...
Imaging Studies VII: Vascular Imaging

