Abdominal aortic aneurysms

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Abdominal aortic aneurysms are bulges (dilations) in the wall of the aorta in the part that passes through the abdomen (abdominal aorta).
(See also Overview of Aortic Aneurysms and Aortic Dissection.)
The aorta is the largest artery of the body. It receives oxygen-rich blood from the heart and distributes it to the body through smaller arteries that branch off of it. The abdominal aorta is the part of the aorta that passes through the abdominal cavity.
Abdominal aortic aneurysms may occur at any age but are most common among men aged 50 to 80 years. Abdominal aortic aneurysms may run in families and are more likely to occur in people who have high blood pressure, especially those who also smoke. About 20% of abdominal aneurysms eventually rupture.
Often an abdominal aortic aneurysm is caused by weakening of the wall of the artery as a result of atherosclerosis. Infection in the wall of the aorta, which may be a complication of heart valve infection (endocarditis) or body-wide infection (sepsis), and blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis) may also cause the artery wall to weaken.