The abdominal aorta is the continuation of the thoracic aorta as it passes through the diaphragm at the level of the twelfth thoracic vertebra. It runs down the posterior abdominal wall, slightly to the left of the midline, in front of the vertebral bodies. This large artery is responsible for delivering oxygenated blood from the heart to the lower part of the body. It is a thick-walled, muscular vessel designed to withstand the high pressure of blood being pumped directly from the heart. Along