Which term describes a decrease in wall motion?

The term that describes a decrease in wall motion is hypokinesis. It is used to indicate that there is reduced movement of the heart muscle in a specific area of the heart wall. This can occur in various conditions, such as ischemia due to coronary artery disease, where the area doesn't contract as effectively as it should.

Hypokinesis is particularly important in echocardiography as it can provide insight into regional cardiac function and help diagnose different types of heart disease. Understanding the degree of wall motion can assist clinicians in determining the severity of a condition and appropriate management strategies.

In contrast, akinesis refers to a complete absence of motion, dyskinesis describes abnormal movement (often in the opposite direction of normal contraction), and hyperkinetic refers to increased motion of the cardiac wall. Each of these terms has specific implications in the assessment of cardiac function.