Anatomical Study of the Echocardiographic Views in the Dog

Echocardiography is a noninvasive technique that is an important tool in diagnosis of cardiac diseases. Interoperation of the results of the echocardiography is dependent on having anatomical knowledge of the heart. The aim of this study was to prepare the anatomical slices according to the related views in echocardiography. These sections can be used as a model for teaching of echocardiography. Six dogs euthanized for purposes rather than the present study were used. The hearts were dissected and then dilated and fixed using formalin 10%. Fixed hearts were then cut to obtain representative slices corresponding to long and short axes of right parastenal standard echocardiographic views which were taken from three healthy dogs. After that, both anatomical and ultrasound images were correlated. The external and internal morphology of the heart were suitable for this study. The comparison of the anatomical slices with related echocardiograms showed a high level of correlation. In the long axis views, the four chambers, the atrioventricular valves and the cardiac septum were visible. The left ventricular outflow and aortic valve were represented in deeper views. The short axis series showed two ventricles and their internal morphology. The slices of hearts which were fixed using formalin may be used for echocardiography interoperation