The blood flowing to the heart best describes:
A) contractility.
B) afterload.
C) preload.
D) vascular phase.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Preload refers to the amount of blood that the heart has to work with, i.e. the blood that is coming into the heart from the veins. It is important because it determines the degree of stretch on the heart muscle fibers before they contract. This stretch affects the strength of the subsequent contraction, making it more efficient if there is an optimal amount of preload. Therefore, the blood flowing to the heart is best described as preload.

The Blood Flowing to the Heart Best Describes