Last update:
10-Dec-2008

Echocardiography is the sector of cardiology that uses ultrasound as a means of depiction of the heart and provides valuable information about the anatomy and the physiology of the heart. The Anglo-Saxon culture first imported the word echocardiogram or echogram for the illustrative diagram that is received on ultrasound examination of the heart. The translation of this term into the Greek language is "ηχωκαρδιογράφημα" or "ηχωγράφημα" expresses conceptually the basic attribute of ultrasound to be reflected and to cause the acoustic phenomenon, the echo. The first synthetic form of the word echocardiography refers to Greek mythology, and specifically to the nymph Echo and the various fables that were created to interpret the phenomenon of reflection of sounds (echo). It appears that Greek myths are integrated into contemporary science and civilization, so spontaneously and easily, and yet they can still amaze us with their uniqueness and the power of their symbolization.

Key words: Echo, Echocardiography, Myth, Ultrasound.