The aorta is the large artery that leaves the heart and provides oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. It first travels upwards, before bending backwards (the arch) and downwards to supply the lower parts of the body. The branches of the arch supply blood to the brain, head and arms. Many conditions can cause the aorta to dilate (widen), dissect (tear), or rupture. These are often life-threatening and require emergency surgery to repair them. The conditions that can lead to this include atherosclerosis (fat and calcium buildup in the arteries), hypertension (high blood pressure), genetic conditions (such as Marfan Syndrome), connective tissue disorders (such as Ehler-Danlos disorder, scleroderma) and direct trauma.