BACKGROUND: Echocardiography is a noninvasive technique that is an important tool in diagnosis of cardiac diseases. Interoperation of the results of the echocardiography is dependent on having anatomical knowledge of the heart. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to prepare the anatomical slices according to the related views in echocardiography. These sections can be used as a model for teaching of echocardiography. METHODS: Six dogs euthanized for purposes rather than the present study were used. The hearts were dissected and then dilated and fixed using formalin 10%. Fixed hearts were then cut to obtain representative slices corresponding to long and short axes of right parastenal standard echocardiographic views which were taken from three healthy dogs. After that, both anatomical and ultrasound images were correlated. RESULTS: The external and internal morphology of the heart were suitable for this study. The comparison of the anatomical slices with related echocardiograms showed a high level of correlation. In the long axis views, the four chambers, the atrioventricular valves and the cardiac septum were visible. The left ventricular outflow and aortic valve were represented in deeper views. The short axis series showed two ventricles and their internal morphology. CONCLUSIONS: The slices of hearts which were fixed using formalin may be used for echocardiography interoperation

BACKGROUND: One of the important parts of the cardiovascular system is the cardiac vessels. Ultrasonography which is the method of choice for evaluating the heart and vessels in all living animals can also be used in this fish. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to make a full understanding of the anatomic and echocardiographic characteristics of these vessels in beluga and suggest standard methods of ultrasonography for this species. METHODS: In this study, a total of 10 immature belugas were selected. The transducer was placed on the ventral surface of the body, between pectoral fins and transverse and sagittal images were obtained. By moving the anterior and posterior regions the vessels were investigated. After the ultrasound examination, anatomic studies were performed. Length and diameter of the vascular compartment were measured and analyzed by SPSS 16 software and Paired Sample T – method (P>0.05). RESULTS: In ultrasonography, blood flow was visible because of the movement of echoic particles. Two precardiac vessels joining between the liver lobes constituted and common vascular compartment before entering the sinus venosus. In the anatomical study, the ventral aorta was bifurcate near the gills. The right liver adjacent to the vessel was shorter and wider than the left one. Moreover, the common vascular compartment was shorter and wider than the liver adjacent to the vessels. The ventral aorta was longer and wider than the right precardiac vessel and common vascular compartment but was shorter than the left precardiac vessel (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Due to lacing thorough anatomic and ultrasonographic studies concerning the cardiac vessels in this species, this study can be a cornerstone for further researches of this kind. In this study the long left precardiac vessel is named Common cardinal vein and wide right vessel is named Hepatic vein.