Understanding Cardiac Output and its Influencing Factors

This chapter provides a detailed explanation of cardiac output, stroke volume, preload, afterload, and contractility in cardiovascular physiology. It discusses how factors like autonomic influences, hormones, and pharmacological interventions impact myocardial contractility and cardiac output. Furthermore, it explores the effects of increasing afterload on left atrial pressure, stroke volume, ventricular pressures, and myocardial oxygen demand, emphasizing the importance of balancing myocardial oxygen demand versus supply.