Fig. 1

(a) Representative locations and orientations of the three axial cross-sections of interest on a sagittal-oblique HASTE image of the thoracoabdominal aorta. (b) Representative cross-sectional bSSFP images of the distal aortic arch (DAA), descending thoracic aorta (DTA), and infrarenal abdominal aorta (IAA) demonstrating local anatomy, location of the aorto-vertebral interface (AVI), and numbering of 16 sectors around the aortic wall. [HASTE – half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo, bSSFP – balanced steady-state free procession, A – aorta, V – vertebra, L – lung, LPA – left pulmonary artery, LA – left atrium, D – duodenum, IVC – inferior vena cava]