In: Anatomy and Physiology
Coarctation of the aorta is a congenital birth defect that is usually fatal. When an aorta has a coarctation, one or more areas of the aorta are “pinched” so that the aortic diameter at that spot is severely reduced. This coarctation leads to a fatal combination of low arterial blood oxygen content and reduced cardiac tissue blood flow. Explain in detail why aortic coarctation leads to both low arterial blood oxygen content and reduced cardiac tissue blood flow.
Answer :)
Coarctation of the aorta is a thinning of the aorta, most frequently occurring just outside the left subclavian artery. The exact reason of coarctation is still unknown. However, it can happen in various other places of the aortic arch (proximal transverse) or also in the abdominal or thoracic aorta. The most general etiology of coarctation of the aorta is the narrowing of the aorta in the area of the patent ductus arteriosus or ductal ligament. The ductal tissue is supposed to cause constriction in the head-to-head region of the aorta. This constricts the lumen of the aorta. Coarctation similarly possibly becomes more difficult if it exists as aortic arch hypoplasia as well as a component of further left-sided heart lesions (aortic stenosis, mitral stenosis, hypoplastic left heart syndrome). Mid-thoracic coarctation may happen with mid-aortic syndromes. By the time, the body pays off by developing collaterals around the coarctation segment.