Parasternal short axis view

Figure 1: Heart structures that can be observed using the parasternal short axis view. A, B - cross section; C - detail; D - ultrasound. SAX - parasternal short axis; RVOT - right ventricular outflow tract; AO - aorta; PA - pulmonary artery; RA - right atrium; LA - left atrium; RPA - right pulmonary artery; LPA - left pulmonary artery.

With the parasternal short axis view, the following structures can be visualized:

• left and right atria,

• atrial septum,

• right ventricle,

• pulmonary artery,

• aortic valve,

• tricuspid valve,

• pulmonary valve.

With this projection, you can assess:

• the morphology of the valves,

• visual assessment of the size of the left and right atrium and right ventricle.

If you place a color Doppler and a continuous Doppler over the tricuspid and pulmonary valves and a color Doppler over the aorta, you can also assess the function of the valves.