The descending aorta begins at the aortic arch and runs down through the chest and abdomen.

Within the abdomen, the descending aorta branches into the two common iliac arteries which serve the pelvis and eventually legs.

The ductus arteriosus connects to the junction between the pulmonary artery and the descending aorta in foetal life.

The descending aorta transports oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body.

[3] This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 598 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)