Radiological Anatomy: Heart

OVERVIEW

This page is dedicated to covering how the heart will appear across different radiological studies.

CHEST X-RAY

A chest X-ray is a very routinely ordered study, and a core component of reading a chest X-ray is to evaluate the appearance of the heart.

The heart can be very clearly visualized on this unremarkable PA chest X-ray (source)
The heart can be very clearly visualized on this unremarkable PA chest X-ray (source)

One of the initial evaluations can be to check the size of the heart. The cardiac width should be ≤ 50% of the thoracic width.

On this normal chest X-ray we can clearly appreciate that the cardiac width (black bar) is less then half the size of the thoracic width (white bar, source).
On this normal chest X-ray we can clearly appreciate that the cardiac width (black bar) is less then half the size of the thoracic width (white bar, source).

While the resolution is not the greatest on a chest X-ray, the general chambers of the heart can be appreciated. 

The general locations of the heart chambers can be estimated on a chest X-ray (source).
The general locations of the heart chambers can be estimated on a chest X-ray (source).

 

Page Updated: 10.06.2016