Left Ventricular Pressure Wave

The “a” wave in the left ventricle reflects the additional thrust of blood from the left atrial contraction.

Most important pressure to understand. This is the pressure the left ventricle, LV, has in it just before systole. From this pressure we can determine if the left ventricle has optimal “filling pressures” so that it can produce an optimal stroke volume.

1. Starts when the mitral valve closes.
2. Ends when the aortic valves open.
3. The heart muscle performs 80% of its work load in this phase. Increased pressure on the other side of the aortic valve causes the ventricle to have to generate enough force to eject it’s volume.

Starts when the aortic valve opens and ends when the aortic valves close. This is where blood is ejected from the heart.