A patient with a connective tissue disease experiences increased pulmonary vascular resistance. Over a period of time, you would expect to observe
A) increased cardiac output from the right ventricle.
B) increased cardiac output from the left ventricle.
C) increased thickness of the right ventricular wall.
D) distension of the pulmonary veins from the right lung.
E) no appreciable changes in heart structure or function.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Increased pulmonary vascular resistance will lead to an increased workload on the right ventricle, causing it to become hypertrophied (thicker). This is because the right ventricle is responsible for pumping blood to the lungs against the increased resistance, and over time, this leads to increased muscle mass. While there may be some compensatory changes from the left ventricle, it is not the primary pump for the lungs and is less likely to have significant changes. Distension of the pulmonary veins from the right lung would also be an unlikely outcome, as this would require significant backflow and pressure buildup in the pulmonary circulation. Finally, it is unlikely that there would be no changes in heart structure or function in response to long-term increased pulmonary vascular resistance.

A Patient with a Connective Tissue Disease Experiences Increased Pulmonary