Functional peculiarities of the heart in the aged

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 23, 2026

Murine Echocardiography of Left Atrium, Aorta, and Pulmonary Artery
08:17

Murine Echocardiography of Left Atrium, Aorta, and Pulmonary Artery

Published on: February 20, 2017

N R Zamfirescu, L Hartia, T Pop

    Physiologie (Bucarest)
    |April 1, 1982
    PubMed

    Insights

    Cardiac function changes with age. Heart contraction studies show a prolonged pre-ejection period (PEP) and decreased filling rates in older adults, impacting overall heart health.

    Area of Science:

    • Cardiology
    • Gerontology
    • Physiology

    Background:

    • Aging is associated with cardiovascular changes.
    • Understanding age-related alterations in cardiac dynamics is crucial for geriatric health.
    • Previous studies suggest modifications in heart contraction patterns with advancing age.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate age-related changes in heart contraction dynamics.
    • To assess the impact of aging on cardiac timing intervals and filling rates.
    • To explore the physiological basis for altered cardiac function in the elderly.

    Main Methods:

    • Noninvasive cardiovascular assessment in 126 subjects (3rd-8th decades).
    • Simultaneous recording of electrocardiogram, phonocardiogram, and external carotid arterial pulse.
    • Apexcardiogram and mitral valve echogram used in a subset of subjects.

    Main Results:

    • Significant prolongation of the pre-ejection period (PEP) with age.
    • No significant change in left ventricular ejection time (LVET); decreased LVET/PEP ratio.
    • Isovolumic relaxation time prolonged; diminished mitral valve E-F slope, indicating reduced diastolic filling rate.

    Conclusions:

    • Aging leads to prolonged PEP and impaired diastolic filling, suggesting slower ventricular relaxation or increased stiffness.
    • These changes reflect inherent modifications in the mitral valve or left ventricle with age.
    • The study highlights age-dependent alterations in cardiac mechanics impacting heart function.

    More Related Videos

    Noninvasive Determination of Vortex Formation Time Using Transesophageal Echocardiography During Cardiac Surgery04:48

    Noninvasive Determination of Vortex Formation Time Using Transesophageal Echocardiography During Cardiac Surgery

    Published on: November 28, 2018

    Echocardiographic Characterization of Left Ventricular Structure, Function, and Coronary Flow in Neonate Mice07:55

    Echocardiographic Characterization of Left Ventricular Structure, Function, and Coronary Flow in Neonate Mice

    Published on: April 7, 2022

    Related Concept Videos

    The Effect of Aging on Tissues01:19

    The Effect of Aging on Tissues

    Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...
    Specialized Characteristics of Cardiac Muscles01:27

    Specialized Characteristics of Cardiac Muscles

    The primary role of cardiac muscles is to propel blood throughout the cardiovascular system. The cardiac muscle cells, or cardiomyocytes, exhibit specialized characteristics that allow them to perform this function.
    Cardiac muscle cells are smaller than skeletal muscles, averaging 10–20 mm in diameter and 50–100 mm in length. However, they have large energy demands for continuous contraction and relaxation. This energy is almost exclusively derived from aerobic metabolism of energy reserves in...
    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...
    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 I: Introduction01:27

    Heart Failure I: Introduction

    Heart failure refers to a clinical syndrome caused by structural or functional cardiac disorders that prevent the heart from pumping an adequate amount of blood to meet the body's metabolic needs. This condition often arises from myocardial infarction or ischemia, leading to decreased cardiac output, reduced tissue perfusion, impaired gas exchange, fluid volume imbalance, and decreased functional ability.Heart failure can result from disruptions in the mechanisms that regulate cardiac output...
    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...