Document Type
Dissertation
Date of Award
1971
Abstract
Accurate size information on a living heart is essential for an in-depth study of its cardiac function. A review of the literature since the turn of the century reveals the great amount of effort that has been expended in the search for better ways to measure heart size. Starling’s law relates energy of contraction to the initial length of the cardiac muscle fiber. To apply this law directly requires some measure of fiber length. The volume of the ventricular cavity is a function of this fiber length and thus can provide such a measure. For this reason many investigators have directed their research toward developing or improving methods for making ventricular volume measurements. The methods find use in the study of normal and diseased hearts by providing information for interrelating such quantities as stroke volume, end diastolic volume, ventricular pressure, work, ventricular compliance, etc. The ultimate importance of a practical ventricular volume method lies in its value as a diagnostic tool as the research information is applied to clinical situations.
Recommended Citation
Lloyd, Roger Albert, "An Evaluation of the Thermodilution Method for Measuring Ventricular Volumes." (1971). All ETDs from UAB. 7129.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/7129
Comments
PhD - Doctor of Philosophy; ProQuest publication number 31752049