Editing Artery (section)

===Aorta===
{{main|Aorta}}
[[File:2121 Aorta.jpg|thumb|The [[aorta]] is the largest blood vessel in human body.]]
The [[aorta]] is the root [[systemic circulation|systemic]] artery (i.e., main artery). In humans, it receives blood directly from the left [[Ventricle (heart)|ventricle]] of the heart via the [[aortic valve]]. As the aorta branches and these arteries branch, in turn, they become successively smaller in diameter, down to the [[arteriole]]s. The [[arteriole]]s supply [[capillaries]], which in turn empty into [[venule]]s. The first branches off of the aorta are the [[Coronary circulation|coronary arteries]], which supply blood to the heart muscle itself. These are followed by the branches of the aortic arch, namely the [[brachiocephalic artery]], the [[left common carotid]], and the [[subclavian artery|left subclavian]] arteries.