The progression of the ascending aorta over time, from its initial formation to the mature structure. The ascending aorta is the portion of the aorta in a two-pass circulatory system that lies between the heart and the arch of aorta. In a two-pass circulatory system blood passes twice through the heart to supply the body once. [ http://www.informatics.jax.org/searches/AMA.cgi?id=MA:0002570 GOC:bf GOC:dgh http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascending_aorta http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/UBERON_0001496 ]