ScienceAugust 23, 2026
aorta
ay-OR-tuh
Definition
The large, primary artery that transports oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body in animals with closed circulatory systems.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek 'aortē,' meaning 'to lift or carry,' as it was historically thought to be the vessel that holds or supports the heart.
In the news
The article mentions the dorsal aorta as the specific site where researchers recorded blood pressure and flow to understand how jet propulsion affects an octopus's heart function.
An octopus has three hearts, but during jet-propelled swimming its main systemic heart can briefly stop—the pressure inside its mantle prevents enough blood from returning to the hearts. That helps explain why bottom-dwelling octopuses usually crawl and re
Read the full article ↗ScienceBlog.com