autoregulation
[aw″to-reg″u-la´shun] control of certain phenomena by factors inherent in a situation; specifically, (1) maintenance by an organ or tissue of a constant blood flow despite changes in arterial pressure, and (2) adjustment of blood flow through an organ in accordance with its metabolic needs.
heterometric autoregulation those intrinsic mechanisms controlling the strength of ventricular contractions that depend on the length of myocardial fibers at the end of diastole.
homeometric autoregulation those intrinsic mechanisms controlling the strength of ventricular contractions that are independent of the length of myocardial fibers at the end of diastole.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
het·er·o·met·ric au·to·reg·u·la·tion
intrinsic regulation of the strength of cardiac contraction as a function of diastolic fiber length (volume), independent of afterload, autonomic nerves and other extrinsic influences. Heterometric autoregulation is also known as the length-tension relationship, the relationship of end diastolic volume to end diastolic pressure, Starling law of the heart, and the Frank-Starling curve.
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
het·er·o·met·ric au·to·reg·u·la·tion
(het'ĕr-ō-met'rik aw'tō-reg-yŭ-lā'shŭn) Intrinsic regulation of the strength of cardiac contraction as a function of diastolic fiber length (volume), independent of afterload, autonomic nerves, and other extrinsic influences. Heterometric autoregulation is also known as the length-tension relationship, the relationship of end diastolic volume to end diastolic pressure, Starling law of the heart, and the Frank-Starling mechanism.
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012