Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Magnetic Adjustment of Afterload in Engineered Heart Tissues
09:40

Magnetic Adjustment of Afterload in Engineered Heart Tissues

Published on: May 5, 2020

THE CAPACITY OF THE CORONARY BED IN CARDIAC HYPERTROPHY

W Dock1

  • 1Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, San Francisco.

The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 30, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Postmortem human heart perfusion with kerosene reveals coronary flow decreases with age and heart hypertrophy. This reduced coronary capacity may contribute to congestive heart failure in older individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Coronary flow is a critical indicator of cardiac health.
  • Age and cardiac hypertrophy are known to affect heart function.
  • Understanding changes in coronary flow is essential for diagnosing and treating heart conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish a method for measuring maximum possible coronary flow in human hearts.
  • To investigate the impact of aging and cardiac hypertrophy on coronary flow.
  • To explore the relationship between coronary capacity and congestive heart failure.

Main Methods:

  • Postmortem perfusion of human hearts with kerosene under pressure.
  • Measurement of coronary flow rates (cc. per gm. per minute).
  • Comparison of flow rates across different age groups and heart weights.

Main Results:

  • Normal coronary flow in men under 40 is 3.1 cc./gm./min. at 100 mm. Hg.
  • Coronary flow is 35% lower in individuals aged 60-80 compared to younger groups.
  • Flow decreases in hypertrophied hearts and is significantly lower in heavier hearts (>600 gm.) across age groups.

Conclusions:

  • Reduced coronary capacity with age and hypertrophy may predispose hearts to congestive failure.
  • No evidence suggests inadequate oxygen supply or diffusion in hypertrophied hearts.
  • Decreased perfusibility with age might be a normal adaptation; young adult hearts have half the perfusibility of 2-year-old infants.

More Related Videos

Scanning Electron Microscopy of Macerated Tissue to Visualize the Extracellular Matrix10:21

Scanning Electron Microscopy of Macerated Tissue to Visualize the Extracellular Matrix

Published on: June 14, 2016

Permanent Ligation of the Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery in Mice: A Model of Post-myocardial Infarction Remodelling and Heart Failure09:37

Permanent Ligation of the Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery in Mice: A Model of Post-myocardial Infarction Remodelling and Heart Failure

Published on: December 2, 2014

Related Concept Videos

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...
Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology01:29

Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology

Systolic Heart Failure and Compensatory MechanismsSystolic heart failure (also termed HFrEF, Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) is the most prevalent type of heart filure. It results in a decreased volume of blood being pumped from the ventricle. The aortic arch and carotid sinuses have baroreceptors that detect reduced blood pressure, triggering the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. Initially, this response aims to boost heart rate and...
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy01:29

Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by asymmetric left ventricular hypertrophy without ventricular dilation. It is more common in men and is typically diagnosed in young, athletic adults.EtiologyHCM is primarily genetic and is caused by mutations in genes encoding sarcomeric proteins. Researchers have identified over 1400 mutations across at least 11 different genes. Among these, the most frequently occurring mutations are found in the...
Pathophysiology of Cardiac Performance01:29

Pathophysiology of Cardiac Performance

Typical heart performance is influenced by heart rate, rhythm, myocardial contraction, and metabolism or blood flow. The cardiac muscle exhibits distinct electrophysiological features, including pacemaker activity and calcium channel control, which play a vital role in the heart's response to various drugs. The autonomic nervous system, comprising the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches, regulates heart rate. Sympathetic activation increases heart rate, while parasympathetic activation...
Cellular Adaptation II: Hypertrophy01:26

Cellular Adaptation II: Hypertrophy

Hypertrophy is the increase in the size of individual cells, resulting in the enlargement of a tissue or organ. Unlike hyperplasia, which involves an increase in cell number, hypertrophy is characterized by an increase in cell volume. This process often occurs in response to higher functional demand or hormonal stimulation, leading to the production of more structural proteins and organelles, thereby enhancing the cells' work capacity.There are two primary types of hypertrophy: physiological...
Pathophysiology of Heart Failure01:17

Pathophysiology of Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a progressive syndrome involving ventricles that leads to inadequate cardiac output. It can be classified based on location and output or ejection fraction. Ejection fraction (EF) is an essential measurement in the diagnosis and surveillance of HF. Reduced EF corresponds to systolic heart failure (HFrEF). However, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is becoming increasingly prevalent. Also known as diastolic HF, this form of HF is related to aging. The...