Ventricular Volume of Nonbeating Excised Dog Hearts in the State of Elastic Equilibrium

Abstract

The volume in the left ventricle and that in the right ventricle were measured statically starting from zero transmural pressure, when the ventricle is in the state of elastic equilibrium, to a negative transmural pressure of 30 mm Hg. Freshly excised dog hearts were submerged in Ringer's solution at 10°C to establish zero transmural pressure, to offset the contribution of the weight of the ventricular walls on the shape of the ventricle, and to retard the onset of postmortem changes. The volume was approximated by an equation which included a power function of the body weight and another of the ventricular weight. For male dogs, the left ventricle when in the state of elastic equilibrium contained a mean volume of 14.5 ml for a body weight of 10 kg and a ventricular weight of 58 g; the corresponding figure for the right ventricle was 12.2 ml. In a quiescent heart below a certain ventricular volume, potential energy will be stored in structural elements of the ventricle wall that will facilitate the filling of the ventricle.