Chapter 4: Recognizing Normal Cardiac Anatomy Flashcards
What can you use to estimate the size of the cardiac silhoutte on at frontal CXR?
the cardiothoracic ratio
What is the cardiothoracic ratio?
a measurement of the widest transverse diameter of the heart compared with the widest internal diameter of the rib cage
What is the normal cardiothoracic ratio in adults at full inspiration?
50%
How do the ventricles respond to obstruction of their outflow?
By first undergoing hypertrophy rather than dilation so the heart may not appear enlarged at first with certain lesions
What is cardiomegaly primarily produced by?
Ventricular enlargement
The ascending aorta should…
not project further to the right than the right heart border
The aortic knob is…
normally < 35 mm and will normally push the trachea slightly to the right
The main pulmonary artery…
is concave or flat
The normal left atrium…
does not contribute to the border of the heart on a nonrotated frontal CXR
What is the lower portion of the left heart border made up of?
Left Ventricle
What does the ascending aorta parallel?
the spine
