Final answer:
End diastolic volume, also known as preload, is influenced directly or indirectly by factors such as filling time, venous return, contractility, and afterload in the cardiovascular system.
Step-by-step explanation:
End diastolic volume (EDV), also known as preload, is the amount of blood in the ventricles at the end of atrial systole just prior to ventricular contraction. EDV can be directly influenced by factors such as filling time and venous return. Filling time, which is related to heart rate (HR), determines preload. Venous return, determined by factors such as skeletal muscle activity, blood volume, and changes in peripheral circulation, also affects preload and EDV. Additionally, autonomic innervation and hormones regulate contractility, which impacts EDV. Finally, afterload, the force the ventricles must generate to pump blood against vascular resistance, can affect EDV as well.