Fig 1. Maps of tracer uptake around branch ostia.

Uptake by the aortic wall around intercostal branch ostia is shown for male rabbits aged (a) 9 weeks (immature), (b) 6 months (mature) and (c) 16–22 months (ex-breeder). Each map represents the average of at least 18 branches from at least 4 animals. (d) The equivalent pattern for 8 branches from 2 ex-breeder female rabbits aged >5 years. White circles indicate branch mouths. (e-h) An example at each age of a map of tracer uptake around a branch mouth superimposed on a 3D reconstruction of the corresponding aortic surface. Dimensions are shown in microns. Colour bars indicate mass transfer coefficients in cm/s. Arrows show the direction of mean aortic blood flow.