Podcast
Questions and Answers
What does an increase in preload primarily affect in the heart's performance?
What does an increase in preload primarily affect in the heart's performance?
How does increased afterload affect the heart?
How does increased afterload affect the heart?
Which of the following is a method by which drugs can decrease preload?
Which of the following is a method by which drugs can decrease preload?
What is the effect of high resistance on the heart due to increased afterload?
What is the effect of high resistance on the heart due to increased afterload?
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What happens to cardiac output when preload increases?
What happens to cardiac output when preload increases?
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Study Notes
Preload
- Same as EDV; amount of blood in ventricles after diastole
- Increased preload stretches ventricles, causing stronger contractions
- Stronger contractions increase stroke volume and cardiac output
- Drugs can affect preload by dilating or constricting veins, affecting preload
Afterload
- Resistance against blood as it is pumped out of the heart
- Blood from the left ventricle (LV) must push against blood already in the aorta
- Increased resistance (e.g., stenosis, high blood pressure) makes the heart work harder
- Continued high resistance (e.g., hypertension) can cause LV hypertrophy (enlargement)
- Drugs can alter afterload by relaxing or dilating blood vessels in the periphery
- This reduces the workload on the heart
- Drugs that constrict blood vessels increase afterload, increasing the workload on the heart.
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Description
This quiz covers key concepts of preload and afterload in cardiovascular physiology. Learn how these factors affect heart function, stroke volume, and cardiac output, along with the impact of various drugs on these processes.