Cardiac imaging planes

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Cardiac imaging planes are standard orientations for displaying the heart on MRI, CT, SPECT, and PET, similar to those used in echocardiography. The planes are defined in reference to the long axis of the left ventricle, which is the line that connects the ventricular apex to the center of the mitral valve :

short axis view (corresponding to the echocardiographic parasternal short axis plane)
- planes perpendicular to the long axis
horizontal long axis view (corresponding to the echocardiographic apical 4-chamber plane)
- planes parallel to that plane containing both the long axis and the "horizontal" line drawn at the mid ventricular level between the center of the left ventricle and the transition between the diaphragmatic and free wall of the right ventricle
vertical long axis (corresponding to the echocardiographic apical 2-chamber plane)
- planes containing the long axis and perpendicular to the horizontal long axis views

Additional views have also been defined :

left ventricular outflow view (three-chamber view)
- plane that contains the left ventricular apex, center of the mitral valve, and center of the aortic valve
right ventricular outflow view
oblique sagittal
- parallel to aortic axis