Anatomy of the Heart and Great Arteries

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques produce high spatial, contrast, and temporal resolution image data for evaluation of cardiac and great vessel anatomy, regional tissue characterization, vascular blood flow, cardiac chamber filling and contraction, regional myocardial dynamics, and myocardial perfusion. MRI produces series of tomographic images of the heart and great arteries in arbitrary section, allowing tailoring of an examination to address a specific clinical problem or a systematic analysis of cardiac structure and physiological function. Recognition of a particular or general abnormality is based on recognition of variance between the instant image data at hand and the expected normal appearance of the heart and great arteries.