Final answer:
LV diastolic filling is influenced by factors such as preload (EDV), filling time, contractility, sympathetic venous system stimulation, and atrial contraction (atrial kick). Filling time diminishes with faster heart rates, reducing preload, but this can be partially mitigated by increasing contractility. Skeletal muscle activity, total blood volume, and peripheral circulation also play roles in affecting venous return and thus preload.
Step-by-step explanation:
Factors that affect left ventricular (LV) diastolic filling independent of diastolic function include preload, filling time, ventricular heart rate, and sympathetic stimulation of the venous system. Preload, also referred to as end diastolic volume (EDV), is the amount of blood in the ventricles at the end of atrial systole and is a critical determinant of diastolic filling. When the heart contracts more rapidly, there is a shorter filling time which can lead to reduced EDV and preload. However, an increase in contractility can raise the stroke volume (SV) to partly counteract this effect. Moreover, sympathetic stimulation enhances venous return, subsequently increasing ventricular filling and contributing to a higher EDV and preload.
The atrial contraction, often termed atrial kick, is also essential as it contributes the final 20-30 percent of ventricular filling, thus influencing LV diastolic filling. Other factors influencing diastolic filling include the activity of skeletal muscles, blood volume, and peripheral circulation, which collectively determine venous return and consequently preload.