The four-chamber view is one of the most important images obtained during both fetal echocardiography and the standard second trimester anatomy scan. This view displays all four chambers of the heart, the two atria and two ventricles, along with the mitral and tricuspid valves, the atrial and ventricular septa, and the general size and position of the heart within the chest. Obtaining a normal four-chamber view can detect approximately 40 to 50 percent of major congenital heart defects, making it a critical screening tool. Abnormalities that can be identified on this view include septal defects, hypoplastic chambers, valve abnormalities, and pericardial effusions.
Sonography Term