What is the significance of an abdominal aortic aneurysm?
A An abdominal aortic aneurysm is an enlarged segment of the lower aorta, the large artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The enlarged or ballooned segment occurs commonly below the arteries that lead to the kidneys. The normal aorta is 2 – 3 centimeters (about ¾ to 1¼ inches) in diameter. An aneurysm is present when the aorta is twice the normal size. Aneurysms less than 5 centimeters in diameter are usually followed by observation because growth rates are slow and risk of rupture is low.
