Dorsal aorta

Dorsal aortae
Human embryo of about fourteen days, with yolk-sac. (Dorsal aorta labeled twice at left.)
Profile view of a human embryo estimated at twenty or twenty-one days old. (Dorsal aorta labeled at center left.)
Details
Carnegie stage	9
Identifiers
Latin	aortae dorsales
Code	TE E5.11.2.1.3.0.1
Anatomical terminology []

The dorsal aortae are paired (left and right) embryological vessels which progress to form the descending aorta. The paired dorsal aortae arise from aortic arches that in turn arise from the aortic sac.

Each primitive aorta anteriorly receives the vitelline veinfrom the yolk-sac, and is prolonged backward on the lateral aspect of the under the name of the dorsal aorta.

The dorsal aortae give branches to the yolk-sac, and are continued backward through the body-stalk as the umbilical arteries to the villi of the chorion.

The two dorsal aortae combine to become the descending aorta in later development.