Echocardiographic Instrumentation and Principles of Doppler Echocardiography

Abstract

Echocardiography has emerged as the principal tool for noninvasive assessment of the cardiovascular system. The basic principles of echocardiography, including the mechanical features of echocardiographic equipment, are no different from diagnostic ultrasound in general. Nevertheless, there are aspects of echocardiography that set it apart from general ultrasonography. Because the heart is a moving organ, and because echocardiography must additionally capture that movement, an understanding of echocardiography requires an understanding of both cardiac anatomy and physiology. This chapter reviews the basic principles of echocardiography and serves as a basis for understanding the specific disease processes discussed in the remainder of this text.