Importance in cardiovascular medicine:
the anterior aspect is the plane in which the heart is viewed during many 2D imaging modalities or during cardiac surgery after a full sternotomy. The media display the heart in both the valentine and attitudinally correct positions either in the body or explanted. The pericardium, a double walled sac that protects and lubricates the heart, can be seen in some of the media.

Important structures:
when positioned in the attitudinally correct orientation the right atrium and ventricle can be seen most prominently as they lie in a more anterior position than the left. The inferior and superior vena cava can be seen connecting to the right atrium on the left of the image with the right atrial appendage concealing the root of the aorta in the center of the image. The pulmonary trunk can be seen to the right of the aorta leading off the top of the right ventricle to the pulmonary arteries and the auricle of the left atrial appendage can be seen on the right of the image.