The heart has four main sections, or "chambers. " � The top two chambers are called the right atrium and left atrium. The bottom two chambers are called the right and left ventricles. Each of these chambers has a valve that keeps blood flowing in one direction. The valves in this picture appear in gray. When the heart is working normally, blood comes in from the body through the right atrium and into the right ventricle. From there it goes to the lungs, where it picks up oxygen. Then the blood comes back through the left atrium, into the left ventricle, and back out to the body through a blood vessel called the aorta. The aorta appears in red. If a valve doesnt work properly, it will either let blood flow backwards in the wrong direction or not let enough blood flow forwards.
Graphic 58389 Version 12.0
View Originalfigure 1Chambers and valves of the heart
The heart has four main sections, or "chambers. " � The top two chambers are called the right atrium and left atrium. The bottom two chambers are called the right and left ventricles. Each of these chambers has a valve that keeps blood flowing in one direction. The valves in this picture appear in gray. When the heart is working normally, blood comes in from the body through the right atrium and into the right ventricle. From there it goes to the lungs, where it picks up oxygen. Then the blood comes back through the left atrium, into the left ventricle, and back out to the body through a blood vessel called the aorta. The aorta appears in red. If a valve doesn't work properly, it will either let blood flow backwards in the wrong direction or not let enough blood flow forwards.
Graphic 58389 Version 12.0
View OriginalTransthoracic echocardiogram (echo)
This picture shows a person getting an echocardiogram (or "echo"). To do an echo, a doctor or nurse puts some gel on a person's chest. He or she presses a thick wand (called a "transducer") against the chest and moves it around. An echo uses sound waves to create images of the heart that appear on a computer screen. A test called an ECG is done during an echo. For an ECG, patches (called "electrodes") are stuck to a person's chest. Wires run from the patches to a machine that records the electrical activity of the heart.
Graphic 77971 Version 2.0
View Originalfigure 2Transthoracic echocardiogram (echo)
This picture shows a person getting an echocardiogram (or "echo"). To do an echo, a doctor or nurse puts some gel on a person's chest. He or she presses a thick wand (called a "transducer") against the chest and moves it around. An echo uses sound waves to create images of the heart that appear on a computer screen. A test called an ECG is done during an echo. For an ECG, patches (called "electrodes") are stuck to a person's chest. Wires run from the patches to a machine that records the electrical activity of the heart.
Graphic 77971 Version 2.0
View OriginalPerson having an ECG
This drawing shows a man having an ECG (also called an electrocardiogram or EKG). He has patches, called "electrodes," stuck onto his chest, arms, and legs. Wires run from the electrodes to the ECG machine. An ECG measures the electrical activity in the heart.
Graphic 53145 Version 2.0
View Originalfigure 3Person having an ECG
This drawing shows a man having an ECG (also called an electrocardiogram or EKG). He has patches, called "electrodes," stuck onto his chest, arms, and legs. Wires run from the electrodes to the ECG machine. An ECG measures the electrical activity in the heart.
Graphic 53145 Version 2.0
View Original