If stroke volume increases, what happens to afterload?

Prepare for the NPTE Scorebuilders OA Exam 1. Engage with flashcards and multiple choice questions, detailed explanations for each item. Achieve success in your exam!

Multiple Choice

If stroke volume increases, what happens to afterload?

Explanation:
Afterload is the pressure the left ventricle must overcome to eject blood. When afterload decreases, the ventricle faces less resistance to outflow, so it can eject more blood with each beat, increasing stroke volume. Therefore, an increase in stroke volume implies that afterload has decreased. If afterload were higher, stroke volume would tend to drop; if afterload stayed the same, changes in stroke volume would depend on preload or contractility, not a direct change in afterload.

Afterload is the pressure the left ventricle must overcome to eject blood. When afterload decreases, the ventricle faces less resistance to outflow, so it can eject more blood with each beat, increasing stroke volume. Therefore, an increase in stroke volume implies that afterload has decreased. If afterload were higher, stroke volume would tend to drop; if afterload stayed the same, changes in stroke volume would depend on preload or contractility, not a direct change in afterload.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy