Greater ventricular filling stretches the heart and increases the force of the next contraction.
Increased venous return stretches cardiac fibres, so sarcomeres reach an optimal overlap and produce a stronger contraction, matching output to input. In heart failure this mechanism is overwhelmed.
It matches output from the two ventricles. It keeps cardiac output equal to venous return.
Remember: more stretch gives stronger beat, up to a limit.
Greater ventricular filling stretches the heart and increases the force of the next contraction.
Frank-Starling Law is one of the 51 topics in Human Physiology. It is rated Advanced, so it suits learners who want specialist depth. Related topics in this area include Blood Pressure, Cardiac Cycle, Cardiac Conduction System.
Exercise increases venous return and stroke volume.
Work through the Beginner topics in Human Physiology first, such as Homeostasis, Tissues and Organs, Skeletal System, then return to Frank-Starling Law. Advanced topics assume the Intermediate vocabulary.
The closest topics to Frank-Starling Law are Blood Pressure, Cardiac Cycle, Cardiac Conduction System, Muscular System. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Frank-Starling Law. To practise the whole of Human Physiology, use the Human Physiology quiz.
Frank-Starling Law: Greater ventricular filling stretches the heart and increases the force of the next contraction. Blood Pressure: The force of blood against vessel walls, recorded as systolic over diastolic pressure. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Blood Pressure and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Human Physiology quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.
The force of blood against vessel walls, recorded as systolic over diastolic pressure.
❤️ Human PhysiologyThe sequence of atrial and ventricular contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole) in each heartbeat.
❤️ Human PhysiologyThe SA node, AV node and Purkinje fibres coordinate heartbeat electrical signals seen on an ECG.
❤️ Human PhysiologySkeletal, smooth and cardiac muscle produce movement and move substances inside the body.
❤️ Human Physiology