ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the biomechanics of the ascending thoracic aorta. The impact produced by the blood on the walls of the aorta during cardiac ejection generates a pressure wave called a pulse wave, which propagates along the arterial tree from the aorta to the peripheral arteries. Aging and changes in arterial mechanical properties can be controlled noninvasively by measuring arterial stiffness, arterial pressure, intimamedia thickness, and arterial diameter. The function of the large elastic arteries is to relay the contraction of the heart when it enters its relaxation phase, thanks to their compliance. The wall stress above the sinotubular junction was greater than that distal to the left subclavian artery, consistent with type A dissections being more common than type B dissections. To characterize the anisotropic nature of the arterial tissue, it is possible to carry out biaxial traction tests. The chapter discusses the challenges regarding predictive numerical simulations for personalized medicine.
