Echocardiography of the normal bovine heart: technique and ultrasonographic appearance

Fifty-one clinically healthy cows were examined ultrasonographically from t he third and fourth intercostal spaces on both sides of the thorax. A 3.0 M Hz transducer was used and the heart was examined in the caudal. long, caud al short and cranial long axes on the right side. and in the caudal and cra nial long axes on the left side. In each position the optimal transducer or ientation and the images of the structures were recorded. In the caudal lon g axis view of the heart on the right (transducer positioned at the fourth intercostal space), all four chambers were visible with; the transducer pos itioned 8 to 10 cm dorsal to the level of the olecranon. The left ventricul ar outflow tract, consisting of the aortic valve and ascending aorta, were visible in the same position with the transducer rotated 10 to 40 degrees c lockwise. In the caudal short axis view of the heart on the right, the left and right ventricles were visible in cross-section with the transducer hel d at right angles to the ribs in the fourth intercostal space, 3 to 6 cm do rsal to the olecranon and tipped slightly dorsally. In the cranial long axi s view of the heart on the right, the right ventricular outflow tract; cons isting of the pulmonary valve and pulmonary artery, was visible in the thir d intercostal space, 8 to 10 cm dorsal to the olecranon with the transducer angled craniodorsally and rotated 10 to 20 degrees clockwise. In the cauda l long axis view of the heart on the left, the left and right ventricles an d the left ventricular outflow tract were visible with the transducer place d in the fourth intercostal space. In the cranial long axis view on the lef t, the right ventricular outflow tract was visible.