What is the term for the loss of elasticity in the myocardium?

The correct answer relates to dilated cardiomyopathy, which is characterized by the dilation of the ventricles and a subsequent loss of myocardial elasticity. This condition leads to impaired contractility as the heart muscle becomes weakened and thinned, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood effectively. In dilated cardiomyopathy, the loss of elasticity primarily arises due to structural changes associated with the dilation of the heart chambers, affecting the overall function and efficiency of the myocardium.

In contrast, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy involves the thickening of the heart muscle, particularly the ventricular septum, which may lead to obstruction of blood flow and altered compliance but does not primarily highlight the loss of elasticity. Restrictive cardiomyopathy is a different condition where the heart muscle becomes rigid, restricting the filling of the ventricles, though this corresponds to stiffness rather than a general loss of elasticity. Ischemic cardiomyopathy results from the effects of coronary artery disease where heart tissue is damaged due to chronic ischemia, compromising myocardial function without directly indicating a generalized loss of elasticity. Each of these conditions affects heart function differently, emphasizing why dilated cardiomyopathy is the term most directly associated with the loss of myocardial elasticity.