Which option describes Echocardiogram?

• A. A CT scan of the chest
• B. A sonogram of the heart that evaluates how the heart is beating and pumping blood
• C. An X-ray image used to assess bone structure
• D. A MRI of the brain

Answer: (B)

Echocardiography is an ultrasound-based study of the heart that provides real-time images of its structure and function. It uses sound waves to visualize how the heart is beating, how well it’s pumping blood, and how the valves and chambers are working, often with Doppler to assess blood flow. This makes the description match best: a sonogram of the heart that evaluates how the heart is beating and pumping blood. In contrast, a CT scan of the chest is a cross-sectional anatomical image, not a real-time heart pump assessment; a chest X-ray focuses on bones and lungs rather than heart function; and an MRI of the brain images neural tissue, not the heart.