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	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

The aorta is the body's largest artery and carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The wall of the aorta is very elastic and can normally stretch and then shrink back as needed to adapt to blood flow. However, some medical conditions can weaken the arterial wall. These factors, along with the wear and tear that naturally occurs with aging, can result in a weak aortic wall that may stretch and bulge outwards. An aortic aneurysm is a stretched and bulging section in the wall of the aorta. A bulging or enlarged vessel is weakened and can burst or rupture, resulting in life-threatening bleeding. This condition is the 10th leading cause of death in men 65 to 74 years of age in the United States.

The January 24/31, 2007, issue of JAMA includes an article about aortic aneurysms caused by underlying inflammation (response to cellular . . . [Full Text of this Article]

RISK FACTORS FOR AN AORTIC ANEURYSM

John L. Zeller, MD, PhD, Writer; Alison E. Burke, MA, Illustrator; Richard M. Glass, MD, Editor

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