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Related Concept Videos

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...
Development of the Heart01:27

Development of the Heart

The development of the human heart, a crucial organ, commences from the mesoderm on the 18th or 19th day after fertilization. This process initiates in the cardiogenic area, a group of mesodermal cells at the embryo's head end, which evolves into elongated strands known as cardiogenic cords. These cords undergo a transformation to form hollow-centered endocardial tubes.
As the embryo undergoes lateral folding, these paired tubes approach each other, merging into a single primitive heart tube by...
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...
Imbalances in Cardiac Output01:26

Imbalances in Cardiac Output

The heart's primary function is to pump blood throughout the body, maintaining a balance between blood sent out (cardiac output) and blood returning (venous return). If this balance is disrupted, it can result in congestive heart failure (CHF), a severe condition where the heart becomes an inefficient pump, leading to inadequate blood circulation.
CHF can occur due to the failure of either side of the heart. Left-side failure leads to pulmonary congestion—the right side continues to send blood...
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Assessing Intracardiac Vortices with High Frame-Rate Echocardiography-Derived Blood Speckle Imaging in Newborns
07:13

Assessing Intracardiac Vortices with High Frame-Rate Echocardiography-Derived Blood Speckle Imaging in Newborns

Published on: December 22, 2023

Left atrial ejection force in healthy newborn infants.

Abdolrazagh Kiani1, Armen Kocharian, Reza Shabanian

  • 1Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Children's Medical Center, Tehran, Iran.

Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : Official Publication of the American Society of Echocardiography
|January 12, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Atrial ejection force (AEF) in newborns is comparable to adults, offering a better assessment of diastolic function than the E/A ratio. This study established normal AEF values for neonatal assessment.

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Hemodynamic Precision in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit using Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography
09:31

Hemodynamic Precision in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit using Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography

Published on: January 27, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Echocardiography

Background:

  • Atrial ejection force (AEF) quantifies left atrial contractile function during systole.
  • AEF is a key parameter for assessing left ventricular diastolic abnormalities and atrial systolic function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine normal Atrial Ejection Force (AEF) values in newborn infants.
  • To evaluate the correlation of AEF with Doppler echocardiographic parameters of transmitral filling flow.
  • To establish AEF as a diagnostic tool for neonatal diastolic function.

Main Methods:

  • Doppler echocardiography was used to measure transmitral filling flow in 47 healthy newborns.
  • Atrial ejection force (AEF) was calculated using the formula: AEF = 0.5 x rho x mitral valve area x (peak A velocity)^2.
  • Normal AEF values were obtained and correlated with various echocardiographic parameters.

Main Results:

  • The mean AEF in newborns was 1.12 +/- 0.42 kilodynes.
  • Positive correlations were found between AEF and atrial filling fraction, A acceleration rate, A deceleration rate, and heart rate.
  • Negative correlations were observed between AEF and rapid filling fraction and the E/A ratio.

Conclusions:

  • Neonatal AEF values are augmented and comparable to adult values, likely due to slower ventricular relaxation in infants.
  • AEF provides a more comprehensive assessment of diastolic function in newborns than the E/A ratio alone.
  • Establishing normal AEF values aids in evaluating complex diastolic function in the neonatal population.