1.
aorta
The main artery of the body, carrying oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the circulatory system.
大動脈から血液が送られる。
Blood is sent out from the aorta.
大動脈瘤は命に関わる病気だ。
An aortic aneurysm is a life-threatening condition.
心臓から出た血液は大動脈を通って全身に届けられる。
Blood from the heart is delivered to the entire body through the aorta.
2.
main artery, lifeline, vital route
Used figuratively for a crucial transportation route, supply line, or channel that sustains a region or system.
この道路は物流の大動脈だ。
This road is the main artery of logistics.
東海道新幹線は日本の交通の大動脈と呼ばれている。
The Tokaido Shinkansen is called the main artery of Japan's transportation network.
地震で交通の大動脈が寸断され、物資の輸送に大きな影響が出た。
The earthquake severed the main transportation artery, greatly affecting the transport of supplies.
STRUCTURE:
大 (large) + 動脈 (artery). The anatomical term refers to the body's largest artery.
USAGE:
The figurative sense (sense 2) is very common in news and business contexts, where major highways, railways, and shipping routes are described as 大動脈 of the economy or transportation system.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 大動脈瘤: aortic aneurysm
- 大動脈解離: aortic dissection
- 交通の大動脈: main transportation artery
- 物流の大動脈: logistics lifeline