Question

In mitral valve stenosis, the mitral valve is stiffened and so it doesn't open properly. How would blood flow through the heart be affected with this condition? How would you expect it affect stroke volume? Would you expect this condition to affect cardiac output? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Mitral valve stenosis hampers blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle leading to a decrease in stroke volume and potentially lowered cardiac output if the condition goes untreated, ultimately straining the heart and possibly leading to heart failure.

Step-by-step explanation:

In mitral valve stenosis, the mitral valve becomes stiff and does not open as it should. This condition affects blood flow through the heart by impeding the normal flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle. Consequently, the left atrium becomes enlarged and pressures increase, leading to potential pulmonary congestion. As a result of the restricted valve opening, the stroke volume, which is the amount of blood the heart pumps with each beat, is likely to decrease since the left ventricle cannot fill properly during diastole. A reduction in stroke volume can also lead to a decrease in cardiac output, the volume of blood the heart pumps in one minute, because cardiac output is the product of heart rate and stroke volume. Mitral valve stenosis necessitates the heart to work harder, which may eventually weaken the heart muscle, and without intervention, this could lead to heart failure.