Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

This is a four chamber view of a heart showing thickening of the left ventricular wall. The thickness of the interventricular septum and the left ventricular free wall is practically equal (symmetric). The left ventricular cavity is diminished in size. In this example, there is also marked hypertrophy of the papillary muscles, which further decreases the size of the left ventricular chamber. The causes of left ventricular hypertrophy are varied. Endurance training athletes develop left ventricular hypertrophy which is physiologic and reversible. On the other hand systemic hypertension and valvular disease (aortic stenosis) are the more common causes of pathologic hypertrophy of the left ventricle.

IVS = Interventricualr septum. LVFW = Left ventricular free wall. APM = Anterior papillary muscle. MV = Mitral valve. LA = Left atrium. Cx = Circumflex coronary artery IVC = Inferior vena cava. RA = Right atrium. RV = Right Ventricle. RC = Right coronary artery. * = Fossa ovalis