LEFT AND RIGHT VENTRICLES

THE INTERVENTRICULAR SEPTUM

 

  1. Ventricular Proportion. The RV is slightly larger than the LV throughout most of the pregnancy, with a 1:1 ratio occurring late in the third trimester.
  2. Ventricular Concordance (ventricles are connected to their respective atria).

Heart – cross-sectional diameter (Table)– Jeanty et.al. 1984

Heart – longitudinal diameter (Table)– Jeanty et.al. 1984

Heart – cross-sectional diameter (Graph)– Jeanty et.al. 1984

Heart – longitudinal diameter (Graph)– Jeanty et.al. 1984

  1. Left Ventricle.
    • Closest ventricle to the spine.
    • Identifiable structures include ventricular trabeculation, anterior and posterior papillary muscles, chordae tendinae and occasionally aberrant ventricular bands (false tendon) (1).
    • Aorta arising from LV.
    • Normal Size and configration of the left ventricle.

Left ventricle cross sectional diameter (diastole) (Table)– Wladimiroff et.al. 1982

Left ventricle cross sectional diameter (systole) (Table)- Wladimiroff et.al. 1982

Left ventricle cross sectional diameter (diastole) (Graph)– Wladimiroff et.al. 1982

Left ventricle cross sectional diameter (systole) (Graph)- Wladimiroff et.al. 1982

  1. Right Ventricle.
    • Contacts the anterior chest wall.
    • Has a muscular (moderator) band near its apex (2).
    •  
    • Other identifiable structures include ventricular trabeculation septal papillary muscles, chordae tendinae, anterior and posterior papillary muscles.
    • Normal Size and configuration of the right ventricle.

 

 

Video clip of moderator band of the right ventricle

 

 

 

Right ventricle cross sectional diameter (diastole) (Table)- Wladimiroff et.al. 1982

Right ventricle cross sectional diameter (systole) (Table)- Wladimiroff et.al. 1982

Right ventricle cross sectional diameter (diastole) (Graph)- Wladimiroff et.al. 1982

Right ventricle cross sectional diameter (systole) (Graph)- Wladimiroff et.al. 1982

 

Right ventricle:

·        Situated anteriorly.

  • Connected to the right atrium via the tricuspid valve.
  • Has a moderator band at it’s apex.
  • Papillary muscle attaches to the moderator band (it is attached to the sidewall in the left ventricle).

 

  1. Echogenic Intracardiac Foci
  2. Interventricular Septum.

 

Interruption of the interventricular septum may be due to echo "dropout"- occurs if the septum is aligned parallel to the long axis of the ultrasound beam. Change transducer angle so that the septum is perpendicular to ultrasound beam.