1. A method of imaging a portion of the aorta of a patient using a magnetic resonance imaging system and a magnetic resonance contrast agent, the method comprising: temporally correlating an administration of the magnetic resonance contrast agent with an acquisition of magnetic resonance image data which is representative of the center of k-space, using an arrival time of the magnetic resonance contrast agent in a region of interest wherein the region of interest includes at least a portion of the aorta; and acquiring the magnetic resonance image data using a 3D pulse sequence, wherein the magnetic resonance image data which is representative of the center of k-space is acquired while the concentration of the contrast agent in the portion of the aorta is greater than a concentration of the contrast agent in veins adjacent to the portion of the aorta and background tissue adjacent to the portion of the aorta.