Age-Related Changes in the Biomechanical Cyclic Strain of the Human Thoracic Aorta

Large vessels in the vascular system undergo progressive degeneration with aging. The widely accepted theory is the aorta enlarges and stiffens with age [1] and vascular compliance decreases [2], which increases systolic pressure, decreases diastolic pressure, and greatly affects cardiovascular health and function. Quantifying the dynamics of an aging human aorta yields insight into changes in the vascular compliance and is vital in understanding pathogenesis and progression of disease, such as atherosclerosis and aneurysm formation [3], along with medical device implantation and design.