The healthy heart does not control a specific cardiac output: a plea for a new interpretation of normal cardiac...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Cardiac Function Regulation

Background:

• Current evidence indicates the healthy heart does not sense or regulate for an optimal cardiac output (Q̇).
• Organ systems influencing cardiac function do not collectively adjust to achieve a specific Q̇.

Discussion:

• The cardiac cycle's purpose may extend beyond merely producing a target Q̇.
• An undiscovered overarching principle in the cardiovascular system might explain preload, afterload, and contractility interactions.

Key Insights:

• The heart's primary function might not be to achieve a specific cardiac output.
• Interactions between preload, afterload, and contractility suggest a more complex regulatory mechanism.

Outlook:

• Future research should explore alternative hypotheses for cardiac function's purpose.
• Investigating the cardiovascular system's underlying principles is crucial for understanding heart biology.