Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
wall motion abnormality
Impaired contraction of specific heart muscle segments, typically indicating ischemia or infarction.
Full Definition
Wall motion abnormality refers to impaired contractile function of specific myocardial segments as visualized on cardiovascular imaging studies. These abnormalities are graded as hypokinetic (reduced motion), akinetic (absent motion), or dyskinetic (paradoxical motion). Wall motion abnormalities typically correspond to specific coronary artery territories and may be present at rest (indicating prior infarction) or induced with stress (suggesting ischemia). Assessment is standardized using the 16- or 17-segment model of the left ventricle.
Usage
Usage note: Should specify the affected segments and severity when documenting findings.
In Context
- "Stress echocardiography demonstrated inducible wall motion abnormalities in the anterior and septal segments." — Stress testing report
- "The patient had persistent wall motion abnormalities consistent with prior myocardial infarction." — Echocardiography report
Also known as
regional wall motion abnormality
RWMA
Contrasted with
normal wall motion
Don't confuse with
wall thickening abnormality