Fetal Echo Standard Sonographic Views questions
and answers with solutions
What describes a fetal heart that is situated in the fetal right chest with the apex pointing to the
left? - ANSWER Dextroposition
What is normal levoposition? - ANSWER 45 =/- 20 degrees
The view that best demonstrates the atrioventricular junction, including the valve leaflets and
annulus, is the: - ANSWER Apical four-chamber view and subcostal four-chamber view
When the apex of the heart is pointing to the fetal left chest and the axis is 45 degrees, this is: -
ANSWER Levocardia
In the short-axis view of the great vessels, all of the following can be demonstrated EXCEPT:
A. Foramen Ovale
B. Pulmonic valve
C. Left atrium
D. Left ventricle
E. Tricuspid valve - ANSWER D. Left ventricle
In the short-axis view of the great vessels, the left ventricle is located inferiorly. Therefore, it is
not visualized in this view.
What is the best view to evaluate the number of aortic cusps? - ANSWER Short-axis view of the
great vessels
, In the short-axis view of the great vessels, the aortic root may be visualized. At this level, the
cusps of the aortic valve are seen in cross section. The aorta is seen as a "circle" in the center of
the image with the pulmonary artery coursing around it.
When diagnosing a fetal heart defect, the four-chamber heart view will be abnormal in what
percentage of all defects? - ANSWER 60%
The best view for evaluating a conoventricular or perimembranous ventricular septal defect is: -
ANSWER Subcostal four-chamber view
In the subcostal four-chamber view, the ultrasound beam is perpendicular to the
interventricular septum, therefore, increasing the detection of conoventricular or
perimembranous defects and decreasing dropout artifacts.
What structure cannot be seen on routine four-chamber heart view? - ANSWER Aortic wall
continuity/Pulmonary wall continuity with the interventricular septum
The aorta is located superior to the atrioventricular valves, so continuity of the aortic wall with
the septum cannot be seen in the four-chamber view. The best view for this would be the long-
axis view of the aorta.
Which modality transmits the highest amount of energy into the fetus? - ANSWER Pulse wave
Doppler
In the three-vessel view, which vessel is most superior? - ANSWER Pulmonary artery
In the three-vessel view, the vessels are anteriorly/posteriorly related, not superiorly/inferiorly.
Thus, if you drew a line from anterior to posterior, the arrangement would be pulmonary artery-
aorta-superior vena cava. The largest vessel would be the pulmonary artery, the aorta would be
next largest, and the superior vena cava would be the smallest.
and answers with solutions
What describes a fetal heart that is situated in the fetal right chest with the apex pointing to the
left? - ANSWER Dextroposition
What is normal levoposition? - ANSWER 45 =/- 20 degrees
The view that best demonstrates the atrioventricular junction, including the valve leaflets and
annulus, is the: - ANSWER Apical four-chamber view and subcostal four-chamber view
When the apex of the heart is pointing to the fetal left chest and the axis is 45 degrees, this is: -
ANSWER Levocardia
In the short-axis view of the great vessels, all of the following can be demonstrated EXCEPT:
A. Foramen Ovale
B. Pulmonic valve
C. Left atrium
D. Left ventricle
E. Tricuspid valve - ANSWER D. Left ventricle
In the short-axis view of the great vessels, the left ventricle is located inferiorly. Therefore, it is
not visualized in this view.
What is the best view to evaluate the number of aortic cusps? - ANSWER Short-axis view of the
great vessels
, In the short-axis view of the great vessels, the aortic root may be visualized. At this level, the
cusps of the aortic valve are seen in cross section. The aorta is seen as a "circle" in the center of
the image with the pulmonary artery coursing around it.
When diagnosing a fetal heart defect, the four-chamber heart view will be abnormal in what
percentage of all defects? - ANSWER 60%
The best view for evaluating a conoventricular or perimembranous ventricular septal defect is: -
ANSWER Subcostal four-chamber view
In the subcostal four-chamber view, the ultrasound beam is perpendicular to the
interventricular septum, therefore, increasing the detection of conoventricular or
perimembranous defects and decreasing dropout artifacts.
What structure cannot be seen on routine four-chamber heart view? - ANSWER Aortic wall
continuity/Pulmonary wall continuity with the interventricular septum
The aorta is located superior to the atrioventricular valves, so continuity of the aortic wall with
the septum cannot be seen in the four-chamber view. The best view for this would be the long-
axis view of the aorta.
Which modality transmits the highest amount of energy into the fetus? - ANSWER Pulse wave
Doppler
In the three-vessel view, which vessel is most superior? - ANSWER Pulmonary artery
In the three-vessel view, the vessels are anteriorly/posteriorly related, not superiorly/inferiorly.
Thus, if you drew a line from anterior to posterior, the arrangement would be pulmonary artery-
aorta-superior vena cava. The largest vessel would be the pulmonary artery, the aorta would be
next largest, and the superior vena cava would be the smallest.
