The aorta stiffens with aging, a process that is accelerated by arterial hypertension.
Decreased arterial compliance is one of the earliest detectable manifestations of adverse …

Arterial stiffening is the most important cause of increasing systolic and pulse pressure, and
for decreasing diastolic pressure beyond 40 years of age. Stiffening affects predominantly …

Ventricular–arterial coupling (VAC) plays a major role in the physiology of cardiac and aortic
mechanics, as well as in the pathophysiology of cardiac disease. VAC assessment …

Background It is known that vasa vasorum flow contributes substantially to the nutrition of the
outer layers of the thoracic aorta. This investigation was undertaken to test the hypothesis …

In recent years, the role of arterial stiffness in the development of cardiovascular diseases
has been explored more extensively. Local arterial stiffness may be gauged via ultrasound …

Highlights•Ultrasound is the modality of choice for initial evaluation of disorders of the
AA.•Ultrasound of the AA provides important anatomic and hemodynamic …

For many years, much of the pioneering research on aortic function was carried out by a
small group of investigators frequently working away from the clinical environment in the …

The etiology of valvular heart diseases (VHD) has changed in the last 50 years in the
industrialized countries. A significant reduction in the incidence of rheumatic fever and its …

Background The aim of this study was to explore possible differences in aortic strain,
distensibility, and stiffness in the descending thoracic aorta between patients with bicuspid …

The major diseases affecting the aorta are atherosclerosis, aortic aneurysms (AAs), and
aortic dissections (ADs), all of which are important clinically. In this chapter, we address all …