Stroke Volume is a cardiac term that refers to the amount of blood pumped from one ventricle of the heart after one beat. The spelling of the word "stroke" is /stɹəʊk/ which represents the sound of "st" followed by the "r" sound pronounced with the rounded lip posture. The vowel sound of "o" is pronounced as /əʊ/ which represents the long "o" sound. The final sound, "k," is pronounced as /k/. Overall, the spelling of Stroke Volume uses IPA phonetic transcription to represent its accurate pronunciation.
Stroke volume is a term commonly used in cardiovascular physiology and refers to the amount of blood pumped by the left ventricle of the heart in a single contraction or heartbeat. It is commonly expressed in milliliters (ml) and is a crucial parameter for assessing the overall functioning of the heart.
Stroke volume is influenced by several factors, primarily preload, afterload, and contractility. Preload refers to the amount of blood delivered to the heart during diastole, which stretches the ventricular walls, allowing them to contract more forcefully. Afterload, on the other hand, represents the resistance the heart must overcome to eject blood out into the circulatory system. Contractility refers to the inherent forcefulness of the heart's contractions.
An increase in preload or contractility usually leads to an increase in stroke volume, allowing more blood to be pumped out with each contraction. Conversely, an increased afterload can lead to reduced stroke volume as the heart faces greater resistance to pump blood effectively.
Measuring stroke volume is crucial in diagnosing and monitoring various cardiovascular conditions. It helps assess the heart's efficiency and its ability to meet the body's demands for oxygenated blood. Stroke volume can be measured using various imaging techniques such as echocardiography or through invasive procedures like a cardiac catheterization.
Overall, stroke volume serves as an essential indicator of heart function and plays a significant role in evaluating cardiac performance and overall cardiovascular health.
The term "stroke volume" has its etymology stemming from Latin and English.
- The word "stroke" originated from the Old English word "strac" which means "a single movement or a blow". It can be traced back to the Old High German word "strac" and the Proto-Germanic word "strakjan", both of which imply "to hit" or "to strike".
- The word "volume" has Latin roots. It comes from the Latin word "volumen" meaning "a roll" or "something that is rolled up". It is derived from the verb "volvere" meaning "to roll" or "to turn around".
When combined, "stroke volume" refers to the amount of blood pumped out of the left ventricle of the heart with each cardiac contraction or stroke.