title: ["Right hand" mitral valve model: a simple and free model available at anywhere].
abstract: We have devised a simple and cost-free mitral valve model using "right hand", which is placed on the median portion of anterior chest and supinated by 30 degrees. The palm is used to resemble the mitral valve:the thenar eminence, its margin wrinkle, and adjacent palm as the anterior leaflet, coaptation line, and the posterior leaflet, respectively. As the thumb and its origin is assumed as the ascending aorta and aortic valve, this model represents the mitral and aortic valves as viewed from the left atrium. This model is anatomically accurate and facilitates comprehending image orientation in transesophageal echocardiographic probe manipulations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Chugoku Rosai General Hospital, Kure 737-0193.
authors.forename: Tomomichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koga
authors.forename: Kazumasa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Orihashi
authors.forename: Itsuo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
mesh_terms: D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D006801:Humans; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008953:Models, Anatomic