During heart failure,
A) the Frank-Starling curve is shifted to the left.
B) the heart pumps out a smaller stroke volume than normal for a given end-diastolic volume.
C) a compensatory increase in sympathetic activity increases the contractility of the heart to normal in the early stages of the disease.
D) both (b) and (c) above.
E) all of these answers.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

During heart failure, the Frank-Starling curve is not shifted to the left, but rather flattened. The heart pumps out a smaller stroke volume than normal for a given end-diastolic volume (option B). In response to the decreased cardiac output, there is a compensatory increase in sympathetic activity which does increase contractility of the heart to normal in the early stages of the disease (option C). Therefore, the best answer is option D, both (b) and (c) above.

During Heart Failure