End-systolic volumeEnd-systolic volume (ESV) is the volume of blood in a ventricle at the end of contraction, or systole, and the beginning of filling, or diastole. ESV is the lowest volume of blood in the ventricle at any point in the cardiac cycle. The main factors that affect the end-systolic volume are afterload and the contractility of the heart. UsesEnd systolic volume can be used clinically as a measurement of the adequacy of cardiac emptying, related to systolic function.End-diastolic volumeIn cardiovascular physiology, end-diastolic volume (EDV) is the volume of blood in the right or left ventricle at the end of filling during diastole, the relaxation phase of the cardiac cycle. Because greater EDVs cause greater distention of the ventricle, EDV is often used synonymously with preload, which refers to the length of the sarcomeres in cardiac muscle prior to contraction (systole).
Ejection fractionAn ejection fraction (EF) related to the heart is the volumetric fraction of blood ejected from a ventricle or atrium with each contraction (or heartbeat). An ejection fraction can also be used in relation to the gallbladder, or to the veins of the leg. Unspecified, it usually refers to the left ventricle of the heart. EF is widely used as a measure of the pumping efficiency of the heart and is used to classify heart failure types.
Heart rateHeart rate is the frequency of the heartbeat measured by the number of contractions of the heart per minute (beats per minute or bpm). The heart rate varies according to the body's physical needs, including the need to absorb oxygen and excrete carbon dioxide.
Cardiac outputMeasurement of blood pumped by the heartMajor factors influencing cardiac output – heart rate and stroke volume, both of which are variable.In cardiac physiology, cardiac output (CO), also known as heart output and often denoted by the symbols Q{\displaystyle Q}, Q˙{\displaystyle {\dot {Q}}}, or Q˙c{\displaystyle {\dot {Q}}_{c}}, is the volumetric flow rate of the heart's pumping output: that is, the volume of blood being pumped by a single ventricle of the heart, per unit time (usually measured per minute).
Ventricle (heart)A ventricle is one of two large chambers located toward the bottom of the heart that collect and expel blood towards the peripheral beds within the body and lungs. The blood pumped by a ventricle is supplied by an atrium, an adjacent chamber in the upper heart that is smaller than a ventricle. Interventricular means between the ventricles (for example the interventricular septum), while intraventricular means within one ventricle (for example an intraventricular block).
BloodBlood is a specialized form of connective tissue and body fluid in the circulatory system of humans and other vertebrates that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells of the body, and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. Blood is composed of blood cells suspended in plasma. Plasma, which constitutes 55% of blood fluid, is mostly water (92% by volume), and contains proteins, glucose, mineral ions, and hormones.
Atrial septal defectAtrial septal defect (ASD) is a congenital heart defect in which blood flows between the atria (upper chambers) of the heart. Some flow is a normal condition both pre-birth and immediately post-birth via the foramen ovale; however, when this does not naturally close after birth it is referred to as a patent (open) foramen ovale (PFO). It is common in patients with a congenital atrial septal aneurysm (ASA).
Work (physics)In science, work is the energy transferred to or from an object via the application of force along a displacement. In its simplest form, for a constant force aligned with the direction of motion, the work equals the product of the force strength and the distance traveled. A force is said to do positive work if it has a component in the direction of the displacement of the point of application.
EchocardiographyEchocardiography, also known as cardiac ultrasound, is the use of ultrasound to examine the heart. It is a type of medical imaging, using standard ultrasound or Doppler ultrasound. The visual image formed using this technique is called an echocardiogram, a cardiac echo, or simply an echo. Echocardiography is routinely used in the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of patients with any suspected or known heart diseases.Cardiovascular physiologyCardiovascular physiology is the study of the cardiovascular system, specifically addressing the physiology of the heart ("cardio") and blood vessels ("vascular"). These subjects are sometimes addressed separately, under the names cardiac physiology and circulatory physiology. Although the different aspects of cardiovascular physiology are closely interrelated, the subject is still usually divided into several subtopics.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.