Ventriculo-arterial coupling and the areas under the end-systolic pressure-volume relation.

Ventriculo-arterial coupling is expressed as the ratio Emax/eam (maximum ventricular elastance/arterial elastance). Different areas under the end-systolic pressure-volume relation (ESPVR) are expressed in terms of Emax/eam. The explicit inclusion of the active force of the myocardium in the mathematical formalism describing the pressure-volume relation (PVR) leads to new insight into the mechanics of left ventricular contraction. Applications to experimental data related to stroke work area SW under ESPVR are discussed and provide further evidence for the consistency of the mathematical formalism used.