Contractility & Cardiac Output Flashcards
1
Q
What is contractility?
A
How forceful the cardiac muscle contracts when stimulated
2
Q
What is inotropy?
A
Alteration of the force or energy of contraction
3
Q
What is positive inotropy?
A
Increased force of contraction
4
Q
What is negative inotropy?
A
Decreased force of contraction
5
Q
What is inotropy generally proportional to?
A
The amount of calcium that is available to troponin on actin filaments of contractile apparatus
6
Q
What is the physiologic basis for the length - tension relationship?
A
The degree of overlap of the thick and thin filaments and the number of possible sites for cross-bridge formation
