  We present a geometric surface parameterization algorithm and several
visualization techniques adapted to the problem of understanding the 4D
peristaltic-like motion of the outflow tract (OFT) in an embryonic chick heart.
We illustrated the techniques using data from hearts under normal conditions
(four embryos), and hearts in which blood flow conditions are altered through
OFT banding (four embryos). The overall goal is to create quantitative measures
of the temporal heart-shape change both within a single subject and between
multiple subjects. These measures will help elucidate how altering hemodynamic
conditions changes the shape and motion of the OFT walls, which in turn
influence the stresses and strains on the developing heart, causing it to
develop differently. We take advantage of the tubular shape and periodic motion
of the OFT to produce successively lower dimensional visualizations of the
cardiac motion (e.g. curvature, volume, and cross-section) over time, and
quantifications of such visualizations.
