Anatomical Structures Corresponding to Each Echocardiographic View (III)
Preface
At the request of a friend, I am writing this piece on the relevant anatomy for echocardiography. The examination has been completed and the report is quite detailed, yet they still wish to see what the actual images look like. So, let’s simply present the images below…
Continuing from the previous article
Figure 1 Short-Axis View
VI. Apical Five-Chamber View
After recording the parasternal long-axis view of the left ventricle from the left sternal border, rotate the transducer 90° clockwise to obtain the short-axis view of the great vessels. The displayed anatomical structures include: right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), pulmonary valve (PV), main pulmonary artery (MPA), aortic valve (AV), right atrium (RA), interatrial septum (IAS), and left atrium (LA). The views and anatomical structures displayed vary with different tilting angles of the transducer.
Figure 2 This view is essential for ultrasound guidance during atrial septal defect occlusion.
Figure 3 Cardiac Anatomical Structures Corresponding to the Short-Axis View in Figure 2 (RCC: Right Coronary Cusp, NCC: Non-Coronary Cusp, LCC: Left Coronary Cusp, TS: Transverse Sinus)
Figure 4 This view can clearly display the aortic valve. For congenital aortic valve malformations such as bicuspid aortic valve, this view is essential for the diagnosis of bicuspid valve classification. In addition, this view allows visualization of the left atrial appendage.
Figure 5 Anatomical structures corresponding to Figure 4 (IAS: Interatrial Septum, IVC: Inferior Vena Cava, PV: Pulmonary Valve, AO: Aorta, RVOT: Right Ventricular Outflow Tract)
Figure 6 Short-axis view of the great arteries. This view can clearly display the main pulmonary artery and its branches. Sometimes, in cases of pulmonary embolism, the emboli can be clearly visualized in this view.
Figure 7 Anatomical structures corresponding to Figure 6 (dAO: Descending Aorta, rPA: Right Pulmonary Artery, lPA: Left Pulmonary Artery, rPV: Right Pulmonary Vein, RAA: Right Atrial Appendage)
Then, the left ventricle is sectioned at different levels, allowing visualization of the short-axis view at the mitral valve level, the papillary muscle view, and the apical view.
Figure 8 Short-axis view of the left ventricle at the mitral valve level, for observing the morphology of the anterior and posterior mitral valve leaflets (zones 1, 2, and 3 in order from the outside to the inside) and the motion of the basal segment of the ventricular wall.
Figure 9 Anatomical structures corresponding to the short-axis view of the mitral valve (ATL: Anterior Tricuspid Leaflet, PTL: Posterior Tricuspid Leaflet, STL: Septal Tricuspid Leaflet, LAD: Left Anterior Descending Artery, CV: Great Cardiac Vein, CS: Coronary Sinus)
Figure 10 Short-axis view of the left ventricle at the papillary muscle level, showing the anterolateral papillary muscle (APM) and posteromedial papillary muscle (PPM) of the mitral valve, as well as the anterior papillary muscle (APM) and posterior papillary muscle (PPM) of the tricuspid valve. This view allows assessment of ventricular wall motion and the presence of defects in the muscular part of the interventricular septum.
Figure 11 Short-axis view of the left ventricle at the apical level and its corresponding anatomical structures (MB: Moderator Band)