Aortic stenosis is a condition where the aortic valve narrows, making it difficult for the left ventricle to pump blood into the aorta. This can lead to several hemodynamic issues. The potential consequences of aortic stenosis include:
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Less blood would be pumped into the aorta: Correct. The narrowed valve restricts blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta, resulting in reduced cardiac output.
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Blood would fall back into the left ventricle: Incorrect. In aortic stenosis, blood does not normally flow back into the left ventricle; rather, blood remains in the left ventricle longer due to the obstruction, but it won't actually fall back.
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Blood would move back into the left atrium: Incorrect. Aortic stenosis primarily affects blood flow out of the left ventricle into the aorta, not from the left ventricle into the left atrium. The left atrium typically receives blood from the lungs via the pulmonary veins.
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Blood would accumulate in the vena cava: Incorrect. Aortic stenosis does not directly cause blood accumulation in the vena cava. However, it could lead to symptoms of heart failure if left untreated, which could eventually affect venous return, but this is not a direct consequence of aortic stenosis itself.
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Less blood would be pumped out toward the lungs: Incorrect. Blood flow to the lungs (via the right side of the heart) is generally not directly affected by aortic stenosis since it concerns the left ventricle and aortic output.
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Less blood would return to the heart via the pulmonary veins: Incorrect. Although there can be changes in cardiac dynamics due to heart failure, aortic stenosis itself does not directly affect blood returning from the lungs to the heart via the pulmonary veins.
In summary, the primary consequence of aortic stenosis would be that less blood would be pumped into the aorta.