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We examined the function of the interventricular septum in six open-chest dogs by inserting piezoelectric crystals into the interventricular septum. Continuous ultrasonic recordings showed that the changes in myocardial chord length (MCL) in the septum and free walls of the right and left ventricle were similar during saline infusion and during pericardiotomy. End-diastolic MCL and myocardial shortening during ejection (MS) rose in the septum and free walls of both ventricles during saline infusion as end-diastolic MCL and MS in the septum and free walls of the ventricles, and reduced end-diastolic pressures by 1-2 mm Hg. The responses to aortic and pulmonary artery constrictions were similar before and after pericardiotomy. When aortic constriction had raised free left ventricular systolic pressure by about 60 mm Hg, end-diastolic MCL increased in the septum and free left ventricular wall, whereas end-diastolic MCL and MS of the free right ventricular wall fell. Pulmonary artery constriction increased end-diastolic MCL in the free right ventricular wall and reduced end-diastolic MCL and MS in the septum and free left ventricular wall. Thus, the myocardium, including the interventricular septum, is uniformly expanded during saline infusion and pericardiotomy. The interventricular septum behaves as part of the left ventricle during aortic and pulmonary artery constriction. The pericardium imposes a restraint on the interventricular septum and free walls of the ventricles during volume loading, but not during pressure loadings, because dilation of one ventricle is associated with shrinkage of the other.
Molaug et al. (1981) studied this question.