Abstract

The patterns of left and right ventricular myocardial velocities and their relationships to each other are not well characterized. Furthermore, the determinants of myocardial velocities are not known. This study evaluated the myocardial longitudinal and radial axis tissue velocities in both the left (LV) and right (RV) ventricles and found that a consistent but non-uniform relationship exists between the LV and RV in both longitudinal and radial axes. Furthermore, age, heart rate and LV dimensions account for between 20% and 70% of the variability seen in LV systolic and diastolic velocities.