real-time echocardiography

medicine

Also known as: cross-sectional echocardiography, two-dimensional echocardiography(Show More)

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

Real-time echocardiography is a medical diagnostic technique that uses ultrasound to create images of the heart. A transducer placed on the chest emits ultrasound waves, which bounce off heart structures like valves and the muscle wall, creating echoes. These echoes are received and converted into electrical impulses, displayed on a screen to show the heart's shape, size, and motion. This allows doctors to assess chamber size, wall thickness, and valve structure, aiding in the diagnosis of various heart conditions such as valve disease, congenital heart defects, and tumors. Real-time echocardiography, also known as two-dimensional echocardiography, provides a more detailed view of cardiac shape and movement compared to older M-mode techniques.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

human cardiovascular system
Noninvasive techniques
Real-time (cross-sectional or two-dimensional) echocardiography depicts cardiac shape and lateral movement not available in M-mode echocardiography by moving the ultrasonic beam very rapidly, and such recording may be displayed on film or videotape. New techniques allow measurement by ultrasonography of rates of flow and pressures,…
Read More
Real-time (cross-sectional or two-dimensional) echocardiography depicts cardiac shape and lateral movement not available in M-mode echocardiography by moving the ultrasonic beam very rapidly, and such recording may be displayed on film or videotape. New techniques allow measurement by ultrasonography of rates of flow and pressures,…
Read More