Figure 1.

This figure depicts the main structures of interest in the aortic root in a simplistic form. It is important to note that there is a difference between the VAJ (often incorrectly referred to as the aortic annulus) and the VBR. The VBR is a line that connects the nadirs of all aortic valve leaflets. This line is correctly also referred to as aortic annulus, surgical annulus or echocardiographic annulus. The VAJ however, is not a consistent landmark but varies by valve phenotype and from patient to patient. The yellow area below the VBR represents the posterior LVOT (aorto-mitral fibrous body), and the red area represents the muscular portion of the LVOT (interventricular septum). STJ, sinotubular junction; VAJ, ventriculoaortic junction; VBR, virtual basal ring; LVOT, left ventricular outflow tract.