Normal great artery views
Left ventricular outflow tract view
- In the normal heart, the first great artery, seen just above (cranial to) the 4-chamber view, is the aorta
- The aorta arises wholly from the left ventricle and initially sweeps out towards the right shoulder
- There are no visible branches of the aorta close to the valve
- The anterior wall of the aorta is continuous with the ventricular septum
- The posterior wall of the aorta is continuous with the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve
- The aortic valve opens freely during systole (the valve cusps disappear in systole)
Left ventricular outflow tract view