The basics of ventricular function

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 22, 2026

Biventricular Assessment of Cardiac Function and Pressure-Volume Loops by Closed-Chest Catheterization in Mice
08:21

Biventricular Assessment of Cardiac Function and Pressure-Volume Loops by Closed-Chest Catheterization in Mice

Published on: June 15, 2020

D J Penny1

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, The Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust, and The National Heart and Lung Institute, London, UK. d.penny@rbh.nthames.nhs.uk

Cardiology in the Young
|May 14, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Understanding ventricular function in congenital heart disease is key. This review simplifies cardiac cycle mechanics to explain ventricular performance for non-experts, aiding assessment without complex math.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Congenital heart disease (CHD) necessitates robust assessment of ventricular function.
  • Existing ventricular function indexes are numerous but not universally ideal.
  • Advanced mathematical models are often used, posing challenges for non-specialists.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide basic concepts of ventricular function for non-experts.
  • To explain ventricular systolic and diastolic performance using cardiac cycle mechanics.
  • To highlight the ventricle's role in cardiovascular and metabolic homeostasis.

Main Methods:

  • Review of the mechanics of the cardiac cycle.
  • Analysis of ventricular systolic and diastolic performance.
  • Description of regional function variability's impact on overall performance.

Main Results:

  • Ventricular function can be understood through basic cardiac cycle mechanics.
  • Non-mathematical approaches offer valuable insights into ventricular performance.
  • Regional variability significantly influences overall ventricular function.

Conclusions:

  • A mechanics-based approach simplifies ventricular function assessment in CHD.
  • Understanding cardiac cycle events is crucial for evaluating ventricular performance.
  • This simplified approach aids comprehension for non-experts and highlights the ventricle's systemic role.

More Related Videos

Echocardiographic Assessment of Cardiac Anatomy and Function in Adult Rats08:09

Echocardiographic Assessment of Cardiac Anatomy and Function in Adult Rats

Published on: December 13, 2019

Transthoracic Echocardiography to Assess Post-Resuscitation Left Ventricular Dysfunction After Acute Myocardial Infarction and Cardiac Arrest in Pigs08:19

Transthoracic Echocardiography to Assess Post-Resuscitation Left Ventricular Dysfunction After Acute Myocardial Infarction and Cardiac Arrest in Pigs

Published on: July 12, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Electrophysiology of Normal Cardiac Rhythm01:19

Electrophysiology of Normal Cardiac Rhythm

The normal cardiac rhythm is a synchronized electrical activity that facilitates the regular and coordinated contraction of the heart muscle. This process is essential for efficient blood circulation throughout the body. The fundamental elements involved in establishing and maintaining this rhythm include the unique electrical properties of cardiac muscle cells, the sinoatrial (SA) node's pacemaker function, the specialized conducting system, and the ionic mechanisms underlying each phase of...
Physiology of the Heart: The Cardiac Cycle01:18

Physiology of the Heart: The Cardiac Cycle

The cardiac cycle describes the events from one heartbeat to the next. It includes three main phases: diastole, atrial systole, and ventricular systole, all driven by changes in chamber pressures and the function of heart valves.
Diastole: The Relaxation Phase
During diastole, all four heart chambers relax. The atrioventricular (AV) valves open, and the semilunar valves close. This phase sees the lowest chamber pressures, promoting ventricular filling. Venous blood enters the heart through the...
Cardiac Cycle01:29

Cardiac Cycle

The cardiac cycle refers to the sequence of events that occur in the heart from the beginning of one heartbeat to the next. It's characterized by alternating periods of contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole) of the heart muscles.
During the cardiac cycle, blood flow through the heart is regulated entirely by changing pressure gradients. This sequence of events begins with the heart in a state of total relaxation, known as mid-to-late diastole, during which blood passively flows from...
The Cardiac Cycle01:13

The Cardiac Cycle

The heart beats rhythmically in a sequence called the cardiac cycle—a rapid coordination of contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole).
The Process
Electrical signals—sent from the sinoatrial (SA) node in the right atrial wall to the atrioventricular (AV) node between the right atrium and right ventricle—cause both atria to simultaneously contract. When the signal reaches the AV node, it pauses for approximately a tenth of a second, allowing the atria to contract and empty blood into the...
Chambers of the Heart01:16

Chambers of the Heart

The human heart is a complex organ made up of four chambers: the right and left atria and the right and left ventricles. These internal chambers are separated by partitions known as the interatrial and interventricular septa. The exterior of the heart features a groove known as the coronary sulcus that demarcates the atria from the ventricles, while the anterior and posterior interventricular sulci distinguish between the two ventricles.
Deoxygenated blood from the body is received in the right...
Conduction System of the Heart01:20

Conduction System of the Heart

The cardiac conduction system produces and transmits electrical impulses that prompt myocardial contraction, ensuring efficient heart function. This intricate system ensures that the heart beats in a coordinated and efficient manner, beginning with the atria and then the ventricles. The conduction system optimizes cardiac output by maintaining this precise sequence, which is crucial for adequate blood circulation.
This system relies on the unique properties of nodal and Purkinje cells:...