Echocardiography, also known as echo,
surface echo, or ultrasound of the heart,
is a generally a noninvasive procedure
in which ultrasound waves are used to create moving pictures of the heart
and the great cardiac vessels.
These pictures provide information about the size,
shape, and movement of the heart chambers and valves,
allowing cardiologist to assess cardiac and valvular functions.
Echocardiography can also reveal structural abnormalities in the heart,
such as congenital defects,
and can be used to measure blood velocity and flow through the heart.