Echocardiography Imaging Windows - The Parasternal Window

There are four Types of windows which are used to visualize the heart from different planes and angles.

1. Parasternal
2. Apical
3. Suprasternal
4. Substernal

• Parasternal Window -

The Long Axis - The Parasternal long axis view is used to visualize Right Ventricle, Left atrium, Left Ventricle, intra ventricular septum, Inferior wall, Root of aorta, Aortic valve and the mitral valve. This view helps in estimating the size and contractility right and left ventricle. Echocardiographer can also see Chordae tendinae attached to AML and the papillary muscle of the left ventricle. Ejection fraction is calculated with the help of M mode cut at the chordal level.

The Short Axis- The parasternal short axis view is used to visualize the cardiac structures at four levels ....

• The level of great vessels
• Mitral Valve
• Papillary Muscles
• Apex

The structures which can be seen with through parasternal short axis view are Mitral Valve, Papillary muscles, Aortic Valve, Tricuspid Valve, Pulmonary artery, left atrium, right atrium, and right ventricle.