Cycle Dynamics

There are several important dynamics of the cardiac cycle that we need to review. Cardiac output, stroke vol Cardiac output is the vol Normal cardiac output for an adult is between 4 and 8 liters per minute depending on body size. Cardiac output may be affected by hormone levels, body size, age, and metabolic need. Cardiac output is defined as stroke vol Preload is influenced by the vol More vol Less vol Arterial contractility, pressure, and resistance all impact afterload. Increased afterload increases the heart's workload. Hypertension, blood viscosity, and aortic stenosis all contribute to increased afterload. Both pulse and blood pressure reflect the mechanical activity of the heart. Blood pressure reflects the pressure of the walls of the arteries, veins, and heart chambers by the circulating vol It is equal to cardiac output times peripheral resistance, which is the resistance of blood flow determined by the diameter of the blood vessels and the tone of the vascular musculature. Blood pressure is affected by any condition that affects peripheral resistance or cardiac output, determined by the diameter of the blood vessels and the tone of the vascular musculature. Blood pressure is affected by any condition that affects the blood pressure.