regional wall motion
The contractile motion of individual cardiac wall segments during the cardiac cycle.
Full Definition
Regional wall motion refers to the assessment of how individual segments of the heart muscle contract and relax during each heartbeat. This parameter is crucial in cardiovascular imaging as it helps identify areas of myocardial damage, ischemia, or dysfunction. Regional wall motion is typically evaluated using a standardized 16- or 17-segment model where each segment is graded as normal, hypokinetic (reduced motion), akinetic (absent motion), or dyskinetic (paradoxical motion). This assessment is fundamental in echocardiography, cardiac MRI, and other imaging modalities for diagnosing coronary artery disease and cardiomyopathies.
Usage
Usage note: Often abbreviated as RWM in clinical notes; distinguish from global assessments.
In Context
- "Regional wall motion analysis demonstrated hypokinesis of the inferior and inferolateral segments." — Echocardiography report
- "All 17 segments showed normal regional wall motion at rest." — Cardiac MRI report