CCI RCS Adult Echo key terms

The percentage of blood in the left ventricle that is ejected with each beat, calculated from end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes. It is a core measure of systolic function and a major determinant of prognosis.

A standardized scheme that divides the left ventricle into 17 regions (six basal, six mid, four apical, plus an apical cap) so that wall motion and perfusion findings can be described and compared consistently.

Tough fibrous strands that connect the free edges of the mitral and tricuspid leaflets to the papillary muscles, preventing the leaflets from prolapsing into the atria during ventricular contraction.

A muscular ridge crossing the right ventricular cavity from the septum to the anterior wall that carries conduction tissue; its presence helps identify which chamber is the right ventricle on an image.

The repeating sequence of ventricular relaxation and filling followed by contraction and ejection. Valve motion, chamber dimensions, and Doppler flow patterns all change in step with its phases.

The two-layered fibrous sac surrounding the heart. A thin film of fluid between its layers lets the heart move freely, and the space between the layers is where effusions accumulate.

The property of certain crystals that change shape when a voltage is applied, producing sound waves, and generate a voltage when returning echoes deform them. It is the basis of transducer function.

A measure of how strongly a tissue resists the passage of sound, determined by tissue density and the speed of sound within it. Differences in impedance between tissues create the echoes displayed as an image.

The progressive loss of ultrasound energy as the beam travels through tissue, caused by absorption, reflection, and scattering. Deeper structures return weaker echoes and therefore require greater amplification.

A control that selectively amplifies echoes arriving later in time so that equally reflective structures at different depths appear with similar brightness on the display.

The ability to separate two reflectors lying along the path of the beam. It depends mainly on the spatial length of the pulse, so shorter pulses and higher frequencies improve it.

The highest Doppler frequency shift a pulsed system can measure unambiguously, equal to half the pulse repetition frequency. Velocities above this limit wrap around and appear as aliasing.

A display artifact in which high-velocity flow appears reversed or wrapped in color or spectral Doppler because the frequency shift exceeds the Nyquist limit. Adjusting baseline, scale, or frequency can reduce it.

A technique that receives sound at twice the transmitted frequency, generated as the beam propagates through tissue. It reduces clutter and improves endocardial border definition, especially in technically difficult patients.

A unitless number estimating the likelihood of cavitation from the peak negative pressure of the ultrasound pulse. It is kept low, particularly when contrast agents are used, following safety guidelines.

A tomographic view obtained with the transducer at the left sternal border that displays the right ventricle anteriorly, the left ventricle, the aortic root and valve, and the mitral valve in long axis.

A view with the transducer placed at the cardiac apex that shows all four chambers at once, allowing side-by-side comparison of chamber sizes and assessment of the mitral and tricuspid valves.

A view obtained with the transducer below the sternum, imaging upward through the liver. It is valuable when rib spaces are limited and is a preferred window for measuring the inferior vena cava.

An artifact in which the ventricle looks shorter than it truly is because the imaging plane misses the true apex. It can falsely reduce measured volumes and ejection fraction.

A one-dimensional recording of motion along a single line of sight plotted against time. Its very high temporal resolution makes it useful for measuring chamber dimensions and timing valve and wall motion.

Imaging with a probe positioned in the esophagus directly behind the heart, giving high-resolution views without chest wall interference. It requires sedation, monitoring, and careful reprocessing of the probe.

Narrowing of the aortic valve that obstructs left ventricular outflow, producing a high-velocity systolic jet, increasing pressure gradients, and eventually concentric left ventricular hypertrophy.

Backward flow across the mitral valve during systole caused by leaflet, chordal, annular, or ventricular disease. Severity is judged with color jet features, vena contracta width, and pulmonary vein flow.

An inherited muscle disorder causing asymmetric left ventricular thickening, most often of the septum, with dynamic outflow obstruction, systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve, and impaired diastolic filling.

An abnormal collection of fluid between the layers of the pericardium, appearing as an echo-free space around the heart. Its size and any signs of chamber compression determine clinical urgency.

Compression of the heart by pericardial fluid under pressure, which impairs filling. Characteristic findings include diastolic collapse of the right atrium and ventricle and marked respiratory variation in flow velocities.

A congenital valve with two functional cusps instead of three, often with a visible raphe. It predisposes to stenosis and regurgitation and is associated with aortic root dilation and coarctation.

A simplified relationship stating that the pressure drop across a narrowing equals four times the square of the peak velocity. It converts a Doppler velocity measurement into a pressure gradient.

The principle that flow passing through a vessel equals flow through any narrowing in it. Using cross-sectional areas and velocities, it allows calculation of valve area in stenosis.

A method that measures the radius of the hemispheric color-flow convergence zone upstream of a regurgitant orifice to estimate regurgitant volume and effective regurgitant orifice area.

The narrowest portion of a regurgitant jet immediately downstream of the orifice, measured in color Doppler. Its width reflects lesion severity and correlates with regurgitant volume.

The area under the Doppler spectral envelope over one cardiac cycle, representing the distance blood travels per beat. Multiplied by a cross-sectional area, it yields stroke volume.

The average pressure difference across a valve during ejection or filling, obtained by averaging instantaneous gradients derived from continuous-wave Doppler velocities over the relevant period.

The ratio of early to late diastolic mitral inflow velocities. Together with deceleration time and annular tissue velocities, it is used to grade left ventricular diastolic function.

A Doppler mode that records the low-velocity, high-amplitude motion of myocardium rather than blood. Annular velocities such as e-prime help assess diastolic function and estimate filling pressures.

An estimate of systolic pressure in the pulmonary artery derived from the tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity plus an estimate of right atrial pressure. It is a standard marker of pulmonary hypertension.

The safety principle of keeping ultrasound exposure as low as reasonably achievable by limiting output power and scanning time while still obtaining the diagnostic information needed.

The reprocessing required for semi-critical equipment such as transesophageal probes, which destroys all microorganisms except large numbers of bacterial spores. It follows cleaning and manufacturer instructions.

A patient's documented agreement to proceed after being told the purpose, risks, benefits, and alternatives of a study. It is required before sedated or invasive examinations such as transesophageal echocardiography.

Injury to muscles, tendons, or nerves caused by repeated scanning postures, forceful movements, and sustained pressure. Prevention relies on ergonomic machine positioning, proper body mechanics, and frequent breaks.