The aorta:From a blood access to a multifunctional organ
LI Qing-guo
Gabriele PIFFARETTI
MA Wei-guo
Martin CZERNY
SUN Li-zhong
Abstract：Aortic diseases encompass a group of high-risk cardiovascular conditions that may compromise systemic circulation.Their initiation and progression are determined not only by focal anatomic abnormalities but also by global imbalance in the structure and function of the aortic wall.As the vascular conduit subject to the highest levels of pulsatile pressure and shear stress within the cardiovascular system,the aorta consists of multiple tissue constituents organized into the intima,media,and adventitia,and it exhibits marked proximodistal heterogeneity in embryological origin and biomechanical properties.The 2023 European Association for Cardio Thoracic Surgery/The Society of Thoracic Surgeon(EACTS/STS)guideline first introduced the concept of the"aortic organ",underscoring that the aorta functions not merely as a passive blood conduit but as a multifunctional organ a multifunctional organ capable of mechanical buffering,precise regulation,signal secretion,and serving as an immunometabolic interface.Investigating the aorta as an organ represents not only a theoretical advancement but also one with substantial implications for clinical practice,research frameworks,and patient management.We further propose the concepts of Aortic Medicine and Aortology,aiming to reshape current diagnostic and therapeutic models from an organ-based perspective.This review summarizes the heterogeneity and core functions of the aortic organ,discusses its clinical implications along with the associated paradigm shift in research,and highlights future directions for precision stratification and individualized interventions driven by high-quality clinical evidence,multi-omics/single-cell spatial atlases,and the integration of biomechanics with artificial intelligence.The ultimate goal is to inform mechanistic studies and develop organ-oriented management strategies for aortic diseases.
Keywords：Aorta organAortic medicineMultifunctional organResearch paradigmPrecision therapyAortic dissection
Publication Date：2026-01-25
Online Publishing Date：2026-02-04(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：4( 1-4 )