Deck 32: Introduction to Echocardiographic Techniques, Terminology, and Tips

Question 1

The brightest returning echo signal in the heart is from which one of the following areas?

A) Anterior wall of the heart
B) Anterior leaflet of mitral valve
C) Aortic leaflet
D) Pericardium

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which one of the following cardiac chambers is posterior to the aorta in the parasternal long-axis view?

A) Left ventricle
B) Right atrium
C) Right ventricle
D) Left atrium

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which one of the following echocardiographic modes was called the ice pick view?

A) A-mode
B) M-mode
C) B-mode
D) Doppler

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Generally, the optimal view to evaluate the pulmonary valve is _____________.

A) apical
B) subcostal
C) suprasternal
D) parasternal

Question 5

The cardiac window for the parasternal view is best found in the ______________ approach.

A) right parasternal border
B) left parasternal border
C) suprasternal
D) infrahepatic

Question 6

The best window to record images and Doppler signals from the arch of the aorta is which one of the following imaging planes?

A) Suprasternal
B) Long-axis
C) Short-axis
D) Apical

Question 7

Which one of the following imaging planes transects the heart perpendicular to the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the body?

A) Apical window
B) Long-axis
C) Suprasternal window
D) Short-axis

Question 8

As the left atrium contracts, the mitral valve opens in a shorter anterior excursion and terminates at point ______.

A) B
B) E
C) A
D) C

Question 9

Velocities that exceed the Nyquist limit are known to produce which one of the following artifacts?

A) Aliasing
B) Side lobe artifact
C) Axial artifact
D) Mirror-image artifact

Question 10

Which one of the following techniques may alleviate lung interference?

A) Scan the patient while erect.
B) Ask the patient to exhale.
C) Scan the patient while supine.
D) Ask the patient to inhale.

Question 11

As the left atrium contracts, the:

A) mitral valve opens.
B) tricuspid valve opens.
C) mitral valve closes.
D) tricuspid valve closes.

Question 12

The mitral valve coincides with the onset of the QRS systolic component at point _____.

A) B
B) A
C) E
D) C

Question 13

If the cardiac sonographer is in the parasternal long-axis view to visualize the ALMV, the transducer should be angled _________ to record the tricuspid valve.

A) superiorly
B) medially
C) inferiorly
D) laterally

Question 14

As diastole begins, the anterior leaflet mitral valve (ALMV) executes a rapid anterior motion, coming to a peak at point _____.

A) F
B) E
C) D
D) A

Question 15

Which one of the following patient positions is best suited for echocardiographic examination?

A) Prone
B) Supine
C) Left lateral semidecubitus
D) Right lateral decubitus

Question 16

Choose the graphic display used to display blood flow.

A) Nyquist limit
B) Spectral waveform
C) Color Doppler imaging
D) Turbulence shift

Question 17

The best window used to record the inferior vena cava and hepatic veins draining into the right atrium is the ______________ imaging plane.

A) apical
B) long-axis
C) subcostal
D) suprasternal

Question 18

Which one of the following statements about Doppler is false?

A) The best quality Doppler signals are obtained when the sample volume is parallel to the direction of flow.
B) The key is to produce a spectral signal to show a well-defined velocity envelope along with a clear window.
C) Displaying an electrocardiogram (ECG) on the Doppler tracing is not necessary.
D) Flow toward the transducer is above the baseline.

Question 19

Why is it beneficial to narrow the color Doppler sector during the echocardiographic examination?

A) Increases the 2D detail
B) Focuses the receive beam
C) Increases the frame rate
D) Turquoise speckle artifacts

Question 20

Which one of the following imaging planes is used in echocardiography?

A) Apical
B) Subcostal
C) Short-axis
D) Parasternal

Question 21

If a four-chambered view is unobtainable, which one of the following alternate views may be used?

A) Suprasternal
B) Subcostal
C) Parasternal
D) Short-axis

Question 22

The cardiac sonographer should palpate the patient's chest to detect the point of maximal impulse when using the _________________ view.

A) suprasternal
B) subcostal
C) parasternal
D) apical

Question 23

Which one of the following techniques has the ability to record maximum velocities without exceeding the Nyquist limit?

A) Spectral analysis
B) Color-flow Doppler
C) Continuous-wave Doppler
D) Pulse-wave Doppler

Question 24

Which one of the following views is usually good for assessing the presence of pericardial effusion?

A) Parasternal
B) Suprasternal
C) Apical
D) Subcostal

Question 25

The mid-parasternal short-axis view is useful in recording which one of the following?

A) Mobility and thickness of tricuspid and aortic valves
B) Flow from the right ventricle outflow tract and pulmonary arteries
C) Typical sausage-shaped right ventricular outflow tract and pulmonary artery draped anterior to circular aorta
D) Continuity of the interventricular septum with the anterior wall of the aorta