— aortic, aortal , adj.
/ay awr"teuh/ , n. , pl. aortas, aortae /-tee/ . Anat.
the main trunk of the arterial system, conveying blood from the left ventricle of the heart to all of the body except the lungs. See illus. under heart .
[ 1570-80; aorté the great artery, lit., something hung, carried; akin to aeírein to lift, carry ]