M-mode echocardiography

Last reviewed 01/2018

Is used for investigating the movement of individual structural elements such as chamber walls and valve leaflets.

The echoes from a single beam direction are plotted on a scrolling screen. With this technique stationary structures appear as straight lines across the screen while moving structures appear as undulating lines.

The addition of an ECG trace to the screen aids in the identification of the phases of the cardiac cycle.