Which of these statements refers to the Frank-Starling law of the heart
A)The shorter the initial length of the cardiac muscle fibres prior to contraction, the more forceful will be the subsequent contraction.
B)Increasing the venous return increases the end-diastolic volume, which leads to an increased stroke volume.
C)As cardiac output is reduced, blood pools in the vasculature so that arterial blood pressure increases.
D)The output of the left side of the heart must always exceed that of the right side of the heart.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Frank-Starling law of the heart states that increasing the volume of blood that enters the heart during diastole (end-diastolic volume) results in an increase in the force of contraction (stroke volume) during systole. Choice B correctly describes this phenomenon. A is incorrect as it refers to the length-tension relationship of cardiac muscle fibres, while C and D do not relate to the Frank-Starling law.

Which of These Statements Refers to the Frank-Starling Law of the Heart