Let us analyze the borders of the cardiac silhouette beginning with the PA view.
  
	
The terms 
 right  and left  always refer to the patient's right and left side.  
 The 
 right border   consists of the aortic arch, the superior vena cava and the right atrium inferiorly.
			 
The 
 left border   consists of the ascending aorta, the main pulmonary artery, the left atrial appendage that is best seen in pathologic circumstances, and the left ventricle that comprises the most inferior portion.
			 
In the lateral chest X ray, 
 anterior aspect  
 of the cardiac silhouette is made up of: the ascending aorta, the right ventricular outflow tract and the right ventricle inferiorly.  
	  
The	
 posterior margin    of the cardiac silhouette is formed by the left atrium above and the left ventricle below.