Two-dimensional echocardiography parasternal short axis normal and abnormal strain

(A) When the right ventricle (RV; which occupies nearly the entire space above the left ventricle [LV] in this image) is volume overloaded, the interventricular septum is displaced toward the RV during systole and toward the LV during diastole, which is opposite of normal septal motion. This color-coded radial displacement strain echocardiographic representation wall motion in the short axis view shows systolic rightward systolic displacement of the interventricular septum in blue. Segmental displacement toward the floating LV centroid (the red "+" in the center of the LV) is coded in red. The muscular protuberances within the LV are papillary muscles.
(B) After volume unloading of the RV (accomplished by large volume diuresis), systolic and diastolic displacement of the septum its restored to its normal direction, with systolic motion of the septum toward the LV centroid rather than toward the RV. The RV is much smaller relative to the LV when compared to the same heart shown in panel A.