Anatomy of Abdominal and Pelvic Vessels

The abdominal aorta is located slightly to the left in front of the lower border of the 12th thoracic vertebra. It enters the retroperitoneal space through the aortic hiatus of the diaphragm, descends along the left anterior side of the spine, and bifurcates into the left and right common iliac arteries at the level of the lower border of the fourth lumbar vertebra. The total length of the abdominal aorta is about 14–15 cm, with a diameter of approximately 2.9–3.0 cm [1].