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Pressure-volume loop

Preload, afterload and contractility each deform this loop in a different direction. Drag them and the confusion between the three tends not to survive.

050100150200050100150200Pressure (mmHg)Volume (mL)stroke volume
End-systolic line (contractility)End-diastolic line (compliance)

Live

What comes out

Stroke volume

77 mL

Ejection fraction

64%

End-diastolic

120 mL

End-systolic

43 mL

Drag these

The three knobs

Try these

States worth recognising

Ejection fraction around 60 percent.

Preload

Moves the right edge of the loop. More filling widens it and stroke volume rises, which is the Frank-Starling relationship drawn out.

Afterload

Raises the top of the loop. The ventricle opens against more pressure, cannot empty as far, so end-systolic volume rises and stroke volume falls.

Contractility

Rotates the end-systolic line. A steeper line means the ventricle empties to a smaller volume at the same afterload, so ejection fraction rises.

A teaching model, drawn from the standard elastance relationships. Real loops carry valve dynamics and wave reflection this does not attempt. How this content is written.