3 Questions
What does the Frank-Starling Law of the Heart describe?
The relationship between end-diastolic volume and stroke volume
What is the effect of increased workload on cardiac output according to the Frank-Starling Law of the Heart?
Increases cardiac output
Which of the following is not related to the Frank-Starling Law of the Heart?
Blood pressure
Study Notes
The Frank-Starling Law of the Heart
- Describes the relationship between the volume of blood in the ventricles (preload) and the volume of blood pumped out of the ventricles (stroke volume) during each heartbeat
- States that as the volume of blood in the ventricles increases, the stretch on the heart muscle fibers also increases, leading to a greater force of contraction and a larger stroke volume
Effects of Increased Workload on Cardiac Output
- According to the Frank-Starling Law, an increase in workload (preload) leads to an initial increase in cardiac output, as the heart muscle fibers contract more forcefully to pump out the increased blood volume
- However, if the workload becomes too great, the heart muscle fibers may become over-stretched, leading to a decrease in cardiac output
Exclusions from the Frank-Starling Law
- The law does not relate to the nervous system's control of heart rate, which is regulated by the autonomic nervous system
Test your knowledge on the Frank-Starling Law of the Heart with this informative quiz! Learn about the intrinsic relationship between end-diastolic volume and stroke volume, and how it affects cardiac output. Test yourself on the key concepts of this important physiological law and enhance your understanding of cardiovascular function.
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