Importance in cardiovascular medicine:
the posterior aspect is a plane in which the heart is not often viewed until the heart is manipulated in the body during a surgical procedure. However, it can be displayed in modern imaging modalities such as CT and MR and is used to help orientate catheters and leads during catheter lab procedures. 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 left atrium and ventricle can be seen most prominently as they lie in a more posterior position than the left. The left atrium can be seen to the right of the image with the right superior and inferior pulmonary veins entering the chamber from the right of the image and the left from the left. The coronary sinus can be seen running around the base of the heart between the left atrium and ventricle and the inferior vena cava can be seen to the bottom of the image connecting to the inferior portion of the right atrium.