Figure 5

Distribution of all normal (top row) and shear elements (bottom row) of the strain matrix in the polar coordinate system at peak systole (t = 360 ms). Strains were calculated from a single slice displacement data, using the proposed method. The results in the region very close to the apex suffer from the fact that RCL directions are ill-defined there. The connection of the right and left ventricles may also cause some deviations from the normal strain in this particular region. The contraction in the apical lateral wall is not in its maximum at this phase (t = 360 ms) as it is also evident from Figure 4. This figure shows that normal strains, in contrast to shear strains, are almost uniform for the rest of the lateral and septal wall at this time point.