III B - Mitral Stenosis
With mitral stenosis, the valve leaflets fail
to open fully during ventricular diastole and hence cause an obstruction
to ventricular filling. Instead of blood passing unimpeded from the LA to
the LV, a significant pressure gradient is required to overcome this
abnormal resistance to filling.
Vary the severity of mitral stenosis and make the following observations:
1. How does mitral stenosis affect the shape of the P-V diagram?
2. How does mitral stenosis affect cardiac output and left ventricular
end-diastolic pressure?
3. What is the impact of increasing heart rate
on cardiac output?