Pulsvolym

Pulsvolym refers to the volume of blood ejected from the left ventricle of the heart with each contraction. It is a crucial determinant of cardiac output, which is the total amount of blood pumped by the heart per minute. Several factors influence pulsvolym, including the contractility of the heart muscle, the filling pressure of the ventricle (preload), and the resistance the ventricle must overcome to eject blood (afterload). For instance, increased contractility, such as during exercise, leads to a larger pulsvolym. Conversely, conditions that reduce the heart's ability to contract forcefully, like heart failure, can decrease pulsvolym. Similarly, if the ventricle is not adequately filled with blood before contraction (low preload), the pulsvolym will be diminished. High afterload, such as in severe hypertension, also forces the ventricle to work harder and can reduce the volume of blood ejected with each beat. Measuring pulsvolym, often indirectly through techniques like echocardiography, provides valuable insights into the heart's pumping efficiency and can aid in diagnosing and managing various cardiovascular conditions. A normal resting pulsvolym in adults is typically around 70-90 milliliters per beat.