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Overview

Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Aortic dissection occurs when the inner lining of the body's main artery (the aorta) tears or splits open, creating two channels of blood flow within the aorta.

In aortic dissection, one channel (called the true lumen) continues to follow the normal course and delivers blood and oxygen to other parts of the body. Increased blood flow through the second channel (called the false lumen) can cause th...Read the full article