Chapters Archive – Page 10 of 22

Myocardial motion during systole and diastole.

Left ventricular diastolic function

Diastolic function and echocardiographic assessment The importance of systolic function can be understood on an intuitive basis. Consider the fact that the left ventricle contracts…

Figure 1. Standardized myocardial segmentation and nomenclature for echocardiography. The left ventricle is divided into 17 segments for 2D echocardiography. One can identify these segments in multiple views.

Left Ventricular Segments for Echocardiography and Cardiac Imaging

Standardized myocardial segmentation for echocardiography and cardiac imaging Cardiovascular imaging modalities have developed rapidly in the past few decades. The repertoire of available methods includes…

Figure 1A-2C. Orientation of myocardial muscle fibers result in longitudinal, radial and circumferential shortening (contraction).

Strain, strain rate and speckle tracking: Myocardial deformation

Myocardial deformation: strain, strain rate, speckle tracking As previously discussed, the left ventricular wall can be subdivided into three layers: the inner lining (endocardium), a…

$Figure 1. Calculation of fractional shortening.$

Fractional shortening for estimation of ejection fraction

Fractional shortening (FS) for estimating systolic function Fractional shortening (FS) is calculated by measuring the percentage change in left ventricular diameter during systole. It is…

Ejection fraction (EF): Physiology, Measurement & Clinical Evaluation

Ventricular ejection fraction (EF) For several decades, ejection fraction (EF) has been the dominating method for assessing left ventricular systolic function. Ejection fraction is simple…

Left ventricular mass and volume (size)

Size and mass of the left ventricle Left ventricular mass is a flawed proxy for ventricular systolic function and load. The mass is, however, an…

Figure 1. Calculation of stroke volume in LVOT.

Assessing left ventricular systolic function

Methods for assessing systolic function (contractile function) Several echocardiographic measurements are available to assess left ventricular systolic function. These methods elucidate slightly different aspects of…

Figure 1. Left ventricular pressure-volume relationship during a single cardiac cycle.

Ventricular Pressure-Volume Relationship: Preload, Afterload, Stroke Volume, Wall Stress & Frank-Starling’s law

Ventricular Pressure-Volume Relationship Left ventricular pressure-volume relationship can be described by a loop diagram with volume depicted on the x-axis and left ventricular pressure on…

Figure 1. Layers of the left ventricular wall, pericardium and ventricular cavity.

Myocardial Mechanics: Structure and Function of Myocardial Fibers

Structure and contractile function of myocardial fibers The left ventricular wall can be subdivided into several layers. These layers are similar to those seen in…

Left Ventricular Function

Left ventricular function and its echocardiographic assessment Cardiac function depends on a large number of parameters, including atrial function, valvular function, and ventricular function. A…