Pulmonary vascular resistance primarily affects the afterload of which ventricle?

Pulmonary vascular resistance primarily affects the afterload of which ventricle?

• A. Right ventricle
• B. Left ventricle
• C. Atria
• D. Interventricular septum

Answer: (A)

Afterload is the pressure the ventricle must generate to eject blood. Pulmonary vascular resistance is the resistance in the pulmonary circulation, so it determines the pressure the right ventricle must overcome to push blood into the lungs. The left ventricle, in contrast, works against systemic vascular resistance in the body’s large circulation. Atria and the interventricular septum aren’t the primary sites setting afterload. Clinically, rising PVR makes it harder for the right ventricle to eject blood, which can lead to right-sided failure if the ventricle can’t compensate.

Afterload is the pressure the ventricle must generate to eject blood. Pulmonary vascular resistance is the resistance in the pulmonary circulation, so it determines the pressure the right ventricle must overcome to push blood into the lungs. The left ventricle, in contrast, works against systemic vascular resistance in the body’s large circulation. Atria and the interventricular septum aren’t the primary sites setting afterload. Clinically, rising PVR makes it harder for the right ventricle to eject blood, which can lead to right-sided failure if the ventricle can’t compensate.