heart function
Cardiac muscle work
Heart function is the performance of the heart as a pump—how effectively it circulates blood through the body.
The term appears mainly in medical contexts, where doctors assess heart function through measurements like ejection fraction and cardiac output: The tests showed reduced heart function after the attack.
Poor heart function indicates the heart isn't pumping strongly enough to meet the body's needs.
- systoleHeart muscle contraction phase
- left ventricleHeart's systemic pumping chamber
- cardiac outputBlood volume heart moves
- echocardiographyUltrasound imaging of heart
- depolarizationLoss of electrical gradient
preload · afterload · electrical signal · baroreceptors · blood pressure · contractility · autonomic nervous system · fight or flight · myocardial infarction · pulse · coronary · atrium · ventricle · heartbeat · circulation · vital · murmur · flutter
heart functionlung function
Breathing ability measurement
respiration · brain function · pulmonary function · kidney function · liver function
heart functioncardiac arrest
Abrupt cessation of circulation
asystole · heart failure · cardiac death · flatline · cardiomyopathy