Parasternal Short Axis View (PSSAX)
The Parasternal Short axis is easy if you've obtained a good Parasternal Long Axis. Why? Because all you need to do is bring the PSLAX into view and ROTATE your probemarker from the right shoulder to the patient's LEFT shoulder. The ultrasound beam is now cutting through the heart in its short axis, much like if you were to take a knife and cut through the end of a football. What we will oberve on the screen is a cross section of the end of the football (almost like cutting a loaf of bread).
Here's the position you'd like to imitate (remember, probe marker to the patient's LEFT shoulder after being in the parasternal long axis position...)
And here's what you'll see on the screen:
1. A sliver of the RV at the top of the screen
2. A large LV in cross section
3. A flipping Mitral Valve shooting blood out at you
This view is called by many the "FishMouth" view as it looks like the lips of a kissing fish!
An Easy Variant: The Parasternal Short Axis at the Aortic Valve View
By tilting the tail of your probe up, you will see more of the apex of the heart. Conversely, by tilting the tail of your probe down, you will begin to move your beam to the Aortic Valve in cross section, and may see the famed "Mercedes sign" of this as all three leaflets come together and imitate a MB logo. See below: (the Aortic Valve in cross section is seen at the center of the screen).
from Yale: http://www.med.yale.edu/intmed/cardio/echo_atlas/views/short_axis_ao.html
Alright, onto our next view...the apical four chamber (the bear)
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