End-systolic volume

End-systolic volume (ESV) is the volume of blood in a ventricle of the heart at the end of contraction, or systole, and the beginning of filling, or diastole. ESV is the lowest volume of blood in the ventricle at any point in the cardiac cycle. The measurement of ESV is important in the assessment of cardiac function, particularly in the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure.

Physiology

The end-systolic volume is the amount of blood left in the left ventricle after systole (contraction). This volume of blood is pushed into the aorta and it is an important measurement in cardiac physiology. The normal range for ESV is 50-100 ml.

Measurement

End-systolic volume can be measured using various imaging techniques such as echocardiography, cardiac MRI, and ventriculography. These techniques allow for the visualization of the heart and the measurement of the volume of blood in the ventricles.

Clinical significance

An increased ESV can be a sign of heart disease. In conditions such as heart failure, the heart is unable to pump all the blood out of the ventricles, resulting in an increased ESV. This can lead to symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue.

See also

• Cardiac cycle
• Ejection fraction
• Stroke volume
• Heart failure