The aorta is the main artery in your belly that carries oxygenated blood from your heart to the lower part of your body. It splits into smaller arteries that supply blood to your legs. Doctors perform a test called duplex of the aorta and iliac arteries for different reasons. They use it to check for bulging in the aorta in the belly (abdominal aortic aneurysms) or to monitor an existing aneurysm for growth. They also use it to look for narrowing in the aorta or iliac arteries, and to check on the aorta or iliac arteries after they have been treated with a stent, balloon angioplasty, or bypass graft.

Ultrasound of the Abdominal Aorta is done to check for aneurysms (AAA), tears in the aorta, and blockages in the blood flow to the legs caused by plaque buildup. Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are the most common type of aortic aneurysm. They happen when high blood pressure causes a weak part of the artery to bulge out, making the artery walls dangerously thin. Aneurysms can be caused by plaque buildup, injury, or can be inherited. They often don't cause any symptoms and can burst suddenly, which can be fatal.