Which of these actions happens during heart failure
A)The Frank-Starling curve is shifted to the left.
B)Blood flows faster in the arterioles.
C)A compensatory decrease in sympathetic activity increases the relaxation of the heart to normal in the early stages of the disease.
D)The heart pumps out a smaller stroke volume than normal for a given end-diastolic volume.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Heart failure is characterized by a decrease in the ability of the heart to pump blood efficiently. This results in a decreased stroke volume (the volume of blood pumped out of the heart during a single heartbeat) for a given end-diastolic volume (the volume of blood in the heart at the end of diastole or relaxation phase). This is due to a decrease in the contractile function of the heart muscle, which can be caused by a variety of factors such as damage to the heart muscle from a heart attack or long-standing high blood pressure. A shift in the Frank-Starling curve to the left would actually result in an increase in stroke volume, which is not seen in heart failure. Blood flow is also not faster in arterioles during heart failure. While sympathetic activity may initially increase to compensate for the decreased heart function, it eventually leads to increased stress on the heart and worsening of the disease.

Which of These Actions Happens During Heart Failure