GROSS ANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -Afterload represents all the factors that contribute to total tension during isotonic contraction. [7] As such afterload can be related to the amount of systemic resistance the ventricles must overcome to eject blood into the vasculature.

Detailed explanation-2: -Afterload, also known as the systemic vascular resistance (SVR), is the amount of resistance the heart must overcome to open the aortic valve and push the blood volume out into the systemic circulation. If you think about the balloon analogy, afterload is represented by the knot at the end of the balloon.

Detailed explanation-3: -Afterload is defined as the force opposing fiber shortening during ventricular ejection. It is not synonymous with systemic arterial pressure, vasomotor tone, or vascular resistance. Instead, it should be thought of as the tension or stress in the ventricular wall during ejection.

Detailed explanation-4: -Afterload is the pressure against which the heart must work to eject blood during systole (systolic pressure). The lower the afterload, the more blood the heart will eject with each contraction.

Detailed explanation-5: -Increased afterload causes an increase in blood pressure. With aging, there is an increase in systolic blood pressure and a widened pulse pressure. A slight decrease in diastolic blood pressure occurs after the sixth decade.