The present invention is a technique of, and system for, imaging vascular
anatomy over distance considerably greater than the maximum practical
field of view of a magnetic resonance imaging system while using
substantially one contrast agent injection. The technique and system of
the present invention acquires image data of a plurality of image volumes
which are representative of different portions of the patient's body. The
image data of each image volume includes image data which is
representative of the center of k-space. The acquisition of image data
which is representative of the center of k-space is correlated with a
concentration of contrast agent in the artery(ies) residing in the image
volume being substantially greater than the concentration of contrast
agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the artery(ies). This
provides preferential enhancement of arteries relative to adjacent veins
and background tissue for each acquisition, wherein each acquisition is
representative of a different portion of the arterial system (e.g.,
abdominal aorta, femoral, popliteal, and tibial arteries).