Question

When discussing factors that impact cardiac output (CO):

What does Starling's Law of the heart entail, and could you outline two key points related to it?

Answer 1

Starling's Law of the heart explains the relationship between preload and stroke volume, and how it impacts cardiac output. Preload and the Frank-Starling mechanism are two key points related to Starling's Law.

Step-by-step explanation:

Starling's Law of the heart explains the relationship between preload and stroke volume, and how it impacts cardiac output. It states that the more the cardiac muscle fibers are stretched during diastole, the stronger the contraction will be during systole, leading to an increased stroke volume and ultimately an increased cardiac output.

Two key points related to Starling's Law are:

1. Preload: Preload refers to the degree of stretch of the cardiac muscle fibers during diastole. As the preload increases, the cardiac muscle fibers are stretched more, leading to a stronger contraction during systole and an increased stroke volume.
2. Frank-Starling Mechanism: The Frank-Starling mechanism is a physiological mechanism that allows the heart to adapt and increase its output in response to an increase in venous return or preload. It ensures that the output of blood from the heart matches the venous return, maintaining a balance in the circulation.