Answer to Risky Business
Correct answer is D. On the left, an anterior view of the heart is shown in its anatomical position. On the right, a posterior view of the heart is presented. Immediately posterior to the left atrium is the esophagus. Thus, the rationale for performing a barium swallow in days gone by was to examine if the left atrium was enlarge. The esophagus is a posterior relationship of the left atrium – think of heartburn. Heartburn has nothing to do with heart disease, but to the lay public it was historically associate with heart ailments because of the esophagus’ posterior proximity to the left atrium. Left atrium enlargement occurs most commonly in association with diastolic dysfunction, left ventricular hypertrophy, mitral valvular disease, and systemic hypertension.
.
Answer to this question is based on material presented in lectures 13 of the Thorax Lecture Series.
= Right atrium
= Right ventricle
= Left ventricle
= Left atrium
= Left ventricle