The abdominal aorta (and inferior vena cava for that matter) is a primary retroperitoneal structure.
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The retroperitoneal cavity is located immediately posterior to the abdominal cavity (behind). It contains the kidneys (and so also the adrenal glands), the pancreas, and the abdominal aorta and vena cava. The walls of the abdominal cavity are covered with a serous membrane, called the peritoneum, as are most internal organs. The fluid in the membrane protects these structures and reduces friction between the organs and the cavity walls as well as between the organs themselves. The retroperitoneal space is separated from the peritoneal space by this layer of membrane covering the anterior organs e.g. liver, stomach, intestines. Both spaces are within the abdominal cavity.
The abdominal aorta splits at about the lumbosacral joint into two common iliac arteries.
Kidneys are said to be located in a retro-(behind) peritoneal position so removing them doesn't affect the parietal peritoneum.The retroperitoneal space is the part of the abdominal cavity that lies behind the peritoneum. Inside the retroperitoneal space, there are the kidneys, adrenal glands, bladder, and ureters. The aorta and inferior vena cava vessels are located within the space as well as part of the esophagus and rectum. These are called the primary retroperitoneal organs, meaning they typically form during gestation behind the peritoneum and remain there throughout development. All of the organs in the space typically feature some peritoneum tissue attached to their front, or anterior side, although no anatomical structures are generally a part of this space.
The renal arteries.
The abdominal aorta divides into two main branches: the common iliac arteries, which further divide into internal and external iliac arteries.