Practice MCAT Question - Q116 - Answer!
Starling’s Law states that as the volume of the blood entering the heart increases, the cardiac muscle cells in the ventricles will stretch and respond with a stronger contraction. What aspect of cardiovascular physiology will be affected?
A. Stroke volume
B. Cardiac output
C. Blood pressure
D. All of the above
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The correct answer is (D). When the ventricular muscle cells are stretched, they respond with a stronger contraction, and more blood can be pumped with each beat (stroke volume). Anything that increases stroke volume also increases cardiac output (heart rate x stroke volume). Anything that increases cardiac output also increases blood pressure.
