Adult Echocardiography Practice Exam

In echocardiography, a normal ejection fraction is typically considered to be greater than:

1. 40%

2. 50%

3. 55%

4. 60%

The correct answer is: 55%

A normal ejection fraction (EF) is an important measurement in echocardiography that indicates how well the heart is pumping blood. It is expressed as a percentage of the volume of blood pumped out of the left ventricle with each heartbeat relative to the total volume of blood in that chamber. Typically, an ejection fraction greater than 55% is considered normal, with values ranging between 55% and 70% indicating healthy cardiac function. The reason 55% is deemed the standard threshold for normalcy is based on extensive clinical studies that correlate this value with healthy outcomes and effective heart performance. When the ejection fraction falls below this level, it may suggest underlying cardiac dysfunction, which can be an early sign of heart failure or other cardiovascular problems. Regarding the other values presented, while 50% represents a reasonably effective function of the heart, it is often considered the lower limit when assessing heart function, rather than the normal range. Similarly, while 60% and above reflects good heart health as well, the established norm is focused on the threshold of 55%. Thus, recognizing this specific percentage is critical for accurate assessment and diagnosis in echocardiographic evaluations.