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The downward slope - Cardiac output

4 important questions on The downward slope - Cardiac output

How can the cardiac output be controlled?

1. Frank-Starlings law of the heart
2. Peripheral resistance

What factors cause hypereffectivity of the heart?

1. nervous stimulation- activation of the sympathetic and inhibition of the parasympathetic nervous system
2. hypertrophy of the heart muscle

How does sympathetic innervation affect cardiac output?

Increases- causes constriction of the peripheral vessels (veins), thereby increasing the mean systemic pressure. This, therefore, ultimately increases the cardiac output.

How does increase blood volume affect the cardiac output?

Increases- increased blood volume will increase the systemic filling pressure= increases atrial pressure= increases the venous return= increases the cardiac output.

Eventually, the cardiac output returns to normal:

1. blood volume returns to normal- increase in blood volume increases the capillary pressure- leads to fluid leaking out
2. increase in blood volume= distends the veins and decreases the resistance
3. autoregulation will cause the venous return to come back to normal

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

Cases for The downhill slope

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