Which statement best expresses the Frank-Starling principle?

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Multiple Choice

Which statement best expresses the Frank-Starling principle?

The key idea here is how filling of the ventricle (preload) affects its ability to pump (stroke volume). The Frank-Starling principle says that when the ventricle fills more during diastole, the muscle fibers are stretched to a more optimal length, which increases the force of contraction and thus raises the stroke volume. So, more filling leads to more output, which is captured by the phrase "More in = more out." The other statements miss this preload–stroke volume relationship: heart rate is not what the Frank-Starling law describes, and increasing end-diastolic volume does affect stroke volume, not having no effect.

The key idea here is how filling of the ventricle (preload) affects its ability to pump (stroke volume). The Frank-Starling principle says that when the ventricle fills more during diastole, the muscle fibers are stretched to a more optimal length, which increases the force of contraction and thus raises the stroke volume. So, more filling leads to more output, which is captured by the phrase "More in = more out." The other statements miss this preload–stroke volume relationship: heart rate is not what the Frank-Starling law describes, and increasing end-diastolic volume does affect stroke volume, not having no effect.

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