The aorta is a main artery that carries blood away from your heart to the rest of the body. The blood it carries is rich in oxygen, and your body relies on it for survival. The aorta is about an inch ...

An aortic dissection happens when tears appear in the inner lining of the aorta, which is the main artery leaving the heart. Blood surges into the tears, causing the aorta lining to split, or dissect.

A coronary artery dissection is a serious heart condition that requires emergency treatment. This condition happens when one of the arteries in the heart develops a tear in its inner lining — one of ...

A 74-year-old man presents to the emergency department with a 1-day history of severe chest and back pain. He has a history of hypertension and has run out of medication. He has no history of similar ...