Cardiac Output and Venous Return Curves

Question 1

What is mean circulatory (mean systemic) filling pressure?

Answer 1

Pressure always present in the cardiovascular system due to overfilling

Question 2

What is the MCFP?

Answer 2

7-9 mmHg

Question 3

What is the central venous compartment?

Answer 3

Right atrium and vessels right before it

Question 4

Where is the majority of the blood in the body found?

Answer 4

Veins

Question 5

What is the relationship between venous return and cardiac output?

Answer 5

Cardiac output = venous return

Question 6

What is central venous pressure?

Answer 6

Pressure at the central venous compartment that drives the filling of the RA (2 mmHg)

Question 7

Why as cardiac output increases and arterial pressure increases, does venous pressure decrease?

Answer 7

The veins become more compliant increasing the distending pressure and decreasing the driving pressure

Question 8

What changes occur in the venous function curve with an increase in blood volume?

Answer 8

It shifts parallel and to the right

Question 9

What occurs to venous return when arterioles constrict? Dilate?

Answer 9

Decrease (graph moves down and left)

Increase (up and right graph shift)

Question 10

What affect does a positive inotrope have on the cardiac function curve?

Answer 10

Moves it to the left and up

Question 11

What is a cardiac function curve?

Answer 11

Starling curve imposed with a venous function curve