'aortography' originates from Greek and Neo-Latin medical formation: Greek 'aortē' (αορτή) meaning 'aorta' and Greek 'graphia' meaning 'writing/recording', combined as the suffix '-graphy'.

'aortography' was formed in modern medical English by combining 'aorta' (from Greek 'aortē' via Latin 'aorta') with the Greek-derived suffix '-graphy' ('graphia'), producing the term 'aortography' and its plural 'aortographies'.

Initially it denoted 'the recording or description of the aorta'; over time it came to refer specifically to radiographic (angiographic) imaging of the aorta using contrast media.