What is aortic dissection?

What is aortic dissection?

Your aorta is the main artery that carries oxygen-rich blood away from your heart to the rest of your body. The wall of your aorta is made up of three tissue layers — an inner layer (intima), middle layer (media) and outer layer (adventitia).

An aortic dissection begins abruptly when a tear occurs in the inner layer of a weakened area of your aorta. Blood surges through the tear, causing the inner and middle layers to separate (“dissect”). As diverted blood flows between the tissue layers, the normal blood flow to parts of your body may be slowed or stopped, or the aorta may rupture completely.

Aortic dissection is a life-threatening condition that can cause sudden death if it is not recognized and quickly treated.