Aneurysms in the arteries occur most frequently in the abdominal aorta, which is the section of the aorta - the largest artery in the body which runs vertically down from the heart. Most abdominal aortic aneurysms form immediately below the renal arteries that branch off to supply blood to the kidneys, which is naturally a slightly weaker section of the artery. They are more common in men than women by a factor of around 8:1.
Aneurysm repair may be recommended where the aneurysm itself is larger than 5cm or if it seems to be growing quickly (i.e. faster than 5mm over a 6-12 month period).
Read about treatment for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm on the following pages: