Nonuniform circumferential deformation of the abdominal aorta: A cross-species comparison

Arterial wall biomechanics are thought to be important in aneurysm development and atherosclerotic plaque localization. Vessel wall dilation occurs because of pulsatile blood flow during the cardiac cycle. Until recently, it was commonly assumed that this dilation occurred concentrically about the center of the lumen. However, dynamic MR, CT, and ultrasound imaging techniques have now shown that aortic wall motion undergoes unequal circumferential deformation during the cardiac cycle. This phenomenon has been observed in both humans and pigs [1, 2]. The purpose of our study was to determine whether variations in circumferential aortic wall dilation persist across mammalian species.© 2007 ASME