We studied the wall motion characteristics of the ascending aorta by velocity vector im-aging (VVI) in primary hypertension patients.The ascending aortas both in 30 patients with primary hypertension and 30 normal controls were examined by Acuson sequoia 512 equiped with VVI.The maximum velocity (Vs,Ve) of every point on the anterior wall of ascending aorta both in systole and diastole was measured.The aortic diameter was wider in the hypertension patients than that in the healthy subjects (P