Aorta: The Body's Main Artery - Definition & Function

The large blood vessel is called the aorta. The aorta is the largest artery in the body and it carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The aorta begins at the left ventricle of the heart and travels down the chest and abdomen. It branches off into smaller arteries that supply blood to all of the organs and tissues in the body.