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Heart Failure - Pathophysiology (view source)
Revision as of 10:10, 30 June 2016
, 10:10, 30 June 2016→Introduction
* '''Afterload''': The force that opposes ejection of blood into the peripheral arterial system, of which arterial blood pressure is the primary factor
* '''Afterload''': The force that opposes ejection of blood into the peripheral arterial system, of which arterial blood pressure is the primary factor
* '''Contractility''': The ability of the myocardium to function as a pump and eject blood
* '''Contractility''': The ability of the myocardium to function as a pump and eject blood
The '''Frank-Starling''' mechanism states that stroke volume increases in response to increased end-diastolic volume (preload) when all other factors remain constant. Therefore, if a larger volume of blood flows to the ventricle, there is greater wall stretch, causing greater expansion during diastole, which in turn increases the force of contraction and therefore stroke volume (quantity of blood that is pumped into the aorta during systole).
== Mechanisms of failure ==
== Mechanisms of failure ==