Final answer:
The relationship between ventricular stretch and contraction is known as the Frank-Starling mechanism or Starling's Law of the Heart.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relationship between ventricular stretch and contraction is known as the Frank-Starling mechanism or Starling's Law of the Heart.
This principle states that the force of heart contraction is directly proportional to the initial length of the muscle fiber. As the ventricular muscle is stretched, the sarcomeres within the muscle increase in length, allowing for more powerful contractions.
By increasing the preload (ventricular stretch), you ultimately increase the contractility (force of contraction) and stroke volume (amount of blood pumped out of the heart per beat).