Heart and Coronary Arteries - Interactive Atlas of Cross-Sectional Anatomy

Atlas-CT

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Knowledge of coronary artery anatomy is important for the study and development of CT of the heart.
In this interactive atlas of human heart anatomy, anatomical structure are visible on a contrast material–enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the heart and coronary arteries.
Actually, CT coronary angiography with three-dimensional volume-rendered and multiplanar images displays arterial anatomy similarly to conventional angiography and is becoming a major tool for the study of coronary artery disease (CAD).

A cardiac contrast material–enhanced computed tomography (CT – 64 detectors) was performed on a healthy subject. To obtain nearly motion-free images, acquisition or reconstruction of data was performed during diastole (70%).
The images are reconstructed by using a medium soft-tissue kernel with retrospective ECG gating with 0.75-mm-thick sections. Images were reformatted to obtain the usual planes used in cardiac imaging (Ultrasound, MRI): axial, short axis, vertical long axis, horizontal long axis.
DICOM data archived on a PACS (Picture Archiving and Communicating System) were exported as jpeg images and post-processed with the software Adobe Photoshop. A suitable functionality and user interface for the study of the cardiac anatomy has been developed with the Macromedia Flash software.
Anatomical structures were labeled according to the actual terminologia anatomica.

This tool provides access to a MDCT atlas in the 4 usual planes, allowing the user to discover interactively heart anatomy. Images are labeled, providing an invaluable medical and anatomical tool. The test mode allows instant evaluation of user progress.
The superior horizontal menubar provides the groups of anatomic labels that the user needs to use (“Anatomical Structures”):
- Morphology – pericardium
- Myocardium – fibrous structures
- Left cavities
- Right cavities
- alves : aortic, mitral tricuspid and pulmonary valves
- coronary artery
- Right coronary artery
- Veins
- Conduction system
- ECG territories
- Heart segmentation (Cerqueira et al. 2002 – AHA - AHC)
- Mediastium vessels such as aorta, pulmonary arteries and veins, superior vena cava.
The “planes” menu allows the user to choose one of the 4 usual planes used for cardiac imaging:
- Axial
- Horizontal long axis
- Vertical long axis
- Short axis
These planes may be chosen directly with the left vertical menu.

To the top of this vertical menu, medical illustrations based on a 3D model and a volume rendering of the heart and the four main coronary arteries (RCA, left main artery, LAD artery, and LCX artery) help the user to understand the Anatomy of the Heart and Great Vessels on MDCT.
As the cursor is moved over a particular anatomic area of the heart, the user is able to discover the links between myocardial vascular territories and electrocardiogram (ECG).
This module has been designed for radiologists, cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, medical students and residents.