IMED3001 Study Guide - Final Guide: Vasodilation, Cardiac Output, Ace Inhibitor
20 Dec 2020
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Document Summary
Instantaneous left ventricular pressure during ejection is an index of left ventricular afterload. A primary determinant of the left ventricular pressure during ejection is the arterial resistance and pressure. When contracting against a high arterial resistance and pressure, a left ventricle will eject less blood than when it is contracting against a lower resistance. Another significant factor is the compliance of the aorta; pressure will rise more rapidly when the ventricle is ejecting into a stiffer aorta. Thus, interaction of the ventricle with properties of the arterial circulation determines how the left ventricular pressure changes during ejection. Although instantaneous left ventricular pressure during ejection is perhaps the best measure of left ventricular afterload, the extent of ventricular ejection is determined by ventricular end- systolic pressure (esp). Thus, as a determinant of stroke volume, end-systolic pressure is a reasonably good measure of ventricular afterload.
