Abstract:Objective Assess the mechanical motion characteristics of the aortic root in 208 healthy adult volunteers via 2D-STE. Methods The Valsalva sinus (VS) was subdivided into four segments for speckle tracking, namely the anterior aortic annular segment (AAA-VS), the posterior aortic annular segment (PAA-VS), the anterior sinotubular junction segment (ASJ-VS), and the posterior sinotubular junction segment (PSJ-VS). The longitudinal strain (LS) and the longitudinal strain rate (LSR) of different aortic root segments were assessed by 2D-STE. Results The LS waveforms of the AAA-VS and PAA-VS were markedly different from those of the ASJ-VS and PSJ-VS. The LS values of the VS and AAo were negatively correlated with age (r = -0.614, -0.507, P < 0.001), positively correlated with LVGLS (r = 0.487, 0.313, P < 0.001), and positively correlated with SVI (r = 0.321, 0.336, P < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between LS, peak systolic LSR values of aortic sinus and PP. The peak systolic LSR values of AA-VS and SJ-VS were positively correlated with LVGLS (r = 0.512, 0.541, P < 0.001), respectively, but had no significant correlation with SVI. Furthermore, the LS values of anterior wall of aortic sinus and ascending aorta were lower than those of posterior wall (P < 0.001). Conclusions The waveforms of the LS and LSR curves of the aortic root in normal adults had the segmental characteristics. The longitudinal mechanical deformations of the aortic root showed regional variations. The LS of the aortic root are correlated with age, SVI and LVGLS. In addition, The systolic peak LSR values was useful to the further assess in understanding the ventricular-arterial coupling relationship.