Echocardiography and cardiac anatomy: A comprehensive view of imaging and structural interpretation

Abstract

Introduction: As technological advancement has revolutionized medicine, echocardiography has established itself as an indispensable diagnostic tool in modern cardiology. The correlation between classical heart anatomy and echocardiographic images not only enriches theoretical knowledge but also has a direct impact on daily clinical practice. We aim to explore the relationship between traditional anatomical knowledge and advanced imaging techniques, which will significantly improve patient care.
Materials and methods: Two human hearts fixed in 10% formaldehyde and preserved in phenoxetol were selected for anatomical dissection. Regarding the echocardiographic views, those we considered most relevant were selected in relation to the number of visualizable anatomical structures and the complexity in the three-dimensional representation. The main views used were the parasternal window and the apical window, obtained by conventional echocardiography.
Results: A series of images obtained by conventional echocardiography (B mode) were analyzed following the views that had been previously selected, that is, the parasternal and apical approach. Sections were made in the cadaveric preparation following the references found in the analysis of the ultrasound images and highlighting the structures that define each of the sections. The anatomical structures that can be visualized in the echocardiographic views that have been chosen for this work and that were used as references to make the various sections in the cadaveric preparation are described.
Conclusions: It has been shown that the integration of anatomical dissection with echocardiography offers a comprehensive view of the heart that significantly improves the understanding of its structure and function. This integrated approach provides richer and more applied training for both students and professionals seeking continuing medical training.