Echocardiogram Network Fundamentals 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which echocardiographic view best demonstrates the cardiac apex and is critical for detecting apical wall motion abnormalities?
- Parasternal long-axis view
- Subcostal four-chamber view
- Apical four-chamber view (Correct answer)
- Suprasternal notch view
Correct answer: Apical four-chamber view
The apical four-chamber view places the ultrasound beam parallel to the left ventricular long axis, optimally visualizing apical segments.
Question 2: In atrial fibrillation, which Doppler finding is characteristically absent on transmitral flow?
- E-wave
- A-wave (Correct answer)
- S-wave
- D-wave
Correct answer: A-wave
Atrial fibrillation eliminates organized atrial contraction, causing absence of the A-wave on transmitral Doppler.
Question 3: Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome involves an accessory conduction pathway. Which echocardiographic finding may be associated?
- Dilated left atrium
- Ebstein's anomaly of the tricuspid valve (Correct answer)
- Bicuspid aortic valve
- Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
Correct answer: Ebstein's anomaly of the tricuspid valve
WPW is associated with Ebstein's anomaly, where right-sided accessory pathways are common alongside the tricuspid valve malformation.
Question 4: During a complete heart block, what would be expected on a cardiac echo examination?
- Synchronized atrial and ventricular contractions
- Independent atrial and ventricular contractions at different rates (Correct answer)
- Absence of ventricular contraction
- Hyperdynamic ventricular function
Correct answer: Independent atrial and ventricular contractions at different rates
In complete heart block, atria and ventricles beat independently because no impulses cross the AV node, visible as dissociated contractions on echo.
Question 5: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is assessed by echocardiography primarily by evaluating which parameter?
- Tricuspid regurgitation severity
- Interventricular and intraventricular dyssynchrony (Correct answer)
- Pericardial effusion size
- Aortic valve area
Correct answer: Interventricular and intraventricular dyssynchrony
CRT targets mechanical dyssynchrony; echo measures interventricular and intraventricular dyssynchrony to assess response to biventricular pacing.
Question 6: Which echocardiographic Doppler technique uses color-coded velocity data to assess regional myocardial timing?
- Continuous-wave Doppler
- Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI) (Correct answer)
- Power Doppler
- Spectral Doppler
Correct answer: Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI)
Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI) measures low-velocity, high-amplitude myocardial motion and is used to detect regional timing differences.
Question 7: Which coronary artery primarily supplies the SA node in most individuals?
- Left anterior descending artery
- Right coronary artery (Correct answer)
- Left circumflex artery
- Posterior descending artery
Correct answer: Right coronary artery
The SA node receives blood supply from the SA nodal artery, which arises from the right coronary artery in approximately 60% of individuals.
Echocardiogram Network Fundamentals 3
Which echocardiographic view best demonstrates the cardiac apex and is critical for detecting apical wall motion abnormalities?