Para-aortic Body

**Semantic type:** Anatomical Structure

**Definition:** Small masses of chromaffin cells that are located alongside the abdominal aorta from above the level of the superior mesenteric artery to below the level of the aortic bifurcation. Derived from neural crest, para-aortic bodies are the main source of fetal catecholamines and normally regress after birth.

**Synonyms:** - paraaortic body