text: explain aorta and its function in the heart? what is the function of aorta?  is it a vein or artery? aorta is the largest artery in the body, the aorta arises from the left ventricle of the heart, goes up. ( ascends ) a little ways, bends over (arches), then goes down (descends) through the chest and through the abdomen to where ends by dividing into two arteries called illac arteries that goes to the legs.  anatomically, the aorta is traditionally divided into the ascending aorta, the aortic arch, and descending aorta.       the descending aorta is, in turn, subdivided into the thoracic aorta (thatdecends with the chest) and the abdominal aorta (that decends with the belly.)   the aorta gives off branches that goes to the head neck, the arms, the major organs in the chest and abdomen, and legs. it serves to supply them all oxygenated blood. the aorta is the central conduit from the heart to the body.