Within normal limits,an increase in preload leads to
A)an increase in cardiac output and force of left ventricular contraction.
B)a decrease in cardiac output and force of left ventricular contraction.
C)an increase in cardiac output and a decrease in force of left ventricular contraction.
D)a decrease in cardiac output and an increase in the force of left ventricular contraction.
E)a decrease in stroke volume and heart rate.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An increase in preload (which refers to the stretching of the heart muscle due to increased blood volume) leads to an increase in cardiac output and force of left ventricular contraction. This is because the increased preload causes the ventricles to contract more forcefully in order to eject the increased volume of blood. This is known as the Frank-Starling law of the heart.

Within Normal Limits,an Increase in Preload Leads to