Anatomy, Physiology & Echocardiography Protocol

Vocabulary flashcards covering thoracic cavity anatomy, systemic and pulmonary circulatory pathways, echocardiographic protocol windows and views, 2D and M-mode measurements, and Doppler evaluations.

Base of Heart

The superior portion of the heart located near the second rib, where major blood vessels enter and exit.

Apex of Heart

The inferior, pointed tip of the heart that rests on the diaphragm, directed anteriorly and to the left.

Location of Heart in Thoracic Cavity

Anatomical placement of the heart centrally in the thoracic cavity between the left and right lungs, bounded inferiorly by the diaphragm and protected by the pericardium and ribs.

Great Vessels and Heart Chambers

The central cardiovascular structure comprising four chambers (RA, RV, LA, LV) and major connected vessels including the superior and inferior vena cava, pulmonary trunk/arteries, pulmonary veins, and aorta.

Systemic and Pulmonary Circulation Pathways

The circulatory routes where deoxygenated blood is routed through the pulmonary artery to the lungs, and oxygenated blood is pumped through the aorta to organs including the liver, kidneys, digestive tract, head, and extremities.

Echocardiogram Acoustic Windows

Standard transducer placement sites on the chest and body wall used to obtain cardiac views: Left Parasternal, Apical, Subcostal, and Suprasternal notch.

Left Parasternal Long Axis (PLAX)

An echocardiographic view obtained from the left parasternal window oriented along the long axis of the heart, imaging the right ventricle, left ventricle, left atrium, aortic valve, and mitral valve.

Left Parasternal Short Axis (PSAX)

An echocardiographic view perpendicular to the long axis, imaging cross-sections of the heart at the aortic valve, mitral valve, and ventricular/papillary muscle levels.

Apical 4 Chamber (A4C) View

An apical view displaying all four heart chambers simultaneously along with the interatrial septum, interventricular septum, tricuspid valve, and mitral valve.

Apical 5 Chamber (A5C) View

An apical view obtained by angling the transducer anteriorly from the 4-chamber view to bring the left ventricular outflow tract and aortic valve into view alongside the four chambers.

Apical 2 Chamber (A2C) View

An apical view obtained by rotating the transducer notch toward the left shoulder to isolate and visualize the left atrium, left ventricle, and anterior and inferior LV walls.

Apical 3 Chamber (A3C) View

An apical long-axis view displaying the left atrium, left ventricle, mitral valve, aortic valve, and left ventricular outflow tract.

Subcostal Window Views

Echocardiographic views obtained beneath the rib cage, including Subcostal 4-chamber (Subcostal 4) and Subcostal IVC/AO views.

Suprasternal Notch Window

An acoustic window located at the base of the neck used to obtain the suprasternal long axis view to evaluate the aortic arch, ascending aorta, descending aorta, and right pulmonary artery.

2D Evaluation

Two-dimensional real-time cross-sectional ultrasound imaging used to evaluate structural anatomy and functional movement of chambers, great vessels, and valves.

M-Mode Evaluation

Motion-mode echocardiography providing high-temporal-resolution 1D cross-sectional ultrasound over time for precise cardiac linear measurements.

IVSd and IVSs

Interventricular Septum thickness measured at end-diastole (IVSd) and end-systole (IVSs) during linear cardiac dimension assessment.

LVIDd and LVIDs

Left Ventricular Internal Diameter measured at end-diastole (LVIDd) and end-systole (LVIDs) to assess LV size and volumetric changes.

LVPWd and LVPWs

Left Ventricular Posterior Wall thickness measured at end-diastole (LVPWd) and end-systole (LVPWs).

Fractional Shortening (%FS)

The percentage change in left ventricular internal diameter during contraction, calculated as $\%FS = \frac{\text{LVIDd} - \text{LVIDs}}{\text{LVIDd}} \times 100$.

Color Doppler Evaluation

An ultrasound imaging technique that overlays color maps onto 2D images to depict blood flow velocity and direction toward or away from the transducer.

Pulsed Wave (PW) Doppler vs Continuous Wave (CW) Doppler

Comparison of Spectral Doppler modalities: PW Doppler uses a single sample volume for range specificity but undergoes aliasing, whereas CW Doppler uses dual crystals to accurately measure high velocities without aliasing despite being range ambiguous.

Aortic Insufficiency

Valvular incompetence causing abnormal diastolic regurgitant flow from the aorta back into the left ventricle, assessed via Color and Continuous Wave (CW) Doppler.

Mitral Valve Insufficiency

Valvular dysfunction resulting in backward blood leakage from the left ventricle into the left atrium during systole, evaluated using Color Doppler and High Pulse Repetition Frequency (HPRF) / PW Doppler.