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Multiple Choice

On spectral Doppler, hepatofugal flow is represented as relative to baseline?

The key idea is how spectral Doppler encodes direction with velocity relative to the baseline. The baseline sits at zero velocity. Flow toward the transducer is shown as deflection above the baseline (positive velocity), while flow away from the transducer is shown below the baseline (negative velocity). Hepatofugal flow means blood moving away from the liver. In the typical RUQ liver study, that direction corresponds to flow away from the transducer, so the Doppler trace falls below the baseline. In contrast, hepatopetal flow toward the liver would appear above the baseline.

The key idea is how spectral Doppler encodes direction with velocity relative to the baseline. The baseline sits at zero velocity. Flow toward the transducer is shown as deflection above the baseline (positive velocity), while flow away from the transducer is shown below the baseline (negative velocity). Hepatofugal flow means blood moving away from the liver. In the typical RUQ liver study, that direction corresponds to flow away from the transducer, so the Doppler trace falls below the baseline. In contrast, hepatopetal flow toward the liver would appear above the baseline.