The aorta carries all the blood that is pumped out of your heart and distributes it, via its many branches, to all the organs of your body. The aorta projects upwards from your heart and then turns downwards, travelling through your chest (the thoracic aorta) and into your abdomen (the abdominal aorta). The normal diameter of the abdominal aorta is around 2 to 3cm (about one inch).