Anatomy of the aortic root: implications for valve-sparing surgery.

The aortic root connects the heart to the systemic circulation and is a highly sophisticated and complex structure. Each component of the aortic root - although simple in its macroscopic morphology - has an optimal macroscopic and microscopic structure and anatomical architecture (1) which contributes to the function of the aortic root as a whole: the intermittent, unidirectional channeling of large volumes of fluid, while maintaining laminar...