The abdominal aorta is the part of the descending aorta distal to the thoracic aorta. It extends from the aortic hiatus of the diaphragm, ventral to the lower border of the 12th thoracic vertebra (T12), down to the 4th or 5th lumbar vertebra (L4/L5).(Source: Gray's Anatomy, Lithography, copyright expired)
