IN VITRO ULTRASONOGRAPHY OF THE NORMAL SHEEP HEART

The anatomical structure of normal heart was studied in vitro through ultrasonography of 60 healthy hearts of sheep collected following slaughter. After removing the clot or any remained blood in atria and ventricles, the organs were imaged under water immersion at 25°C, using a B-mode real time ultrasound scanner fitted with a 3.5 or 5.0 MHz sector transducer. The different cavities of the heart were imaged. The thickness of left ventricle wall (LV), right ventricle wall (RV) and inter-ventricular space (IVS) were measured. All the sizes obtained by ultrasonography were compared with those obtained by ruler. These sizes were quite comparable. Atrio-ventricular valves, semilunar valves and papillary muscles were seen as echogenic masses. The wall of ventricles, atrium and space between them were also echogenic and had homogeneous echotexture. The heart cavities did not show any echo and were observed homogenous. Apex of the heart, the root of the aorta, and pulmonary tract were also distinguishable.