Module 1: How to obtain cardiac views

When the heart is seen from the front, note:

• The position of the chambers and great arteries relative to each other
• The relative position of the valves to each other. The mitral and aortic valves lie in the left ventricle, behind (posterior to) the right heart structures
• Only the appendage of the left atrium (LAA) and a small part of the left ventricle is seen

The four basic intracardiac views are:

• The 4-chamber view
• The left ventricular outflow tract (or aortic origin) view
• The 3-vessel view
• The transverse aortic arch view