Tag: Frank starling mechanism

Diuretics, often called "water pills," are a cornerstone in managing conditions like heart failure, with loop diuretics being administered in about 90% of patients hospitalized for this condition [1.4.4]. But why do diuretics decrease preload? The answer lies in their fundamental effect on the body's fluid and salt balance.

First developed by Ernest Starling in the early 20th century, the Starling heart lever is a mechanical instrument used in experimental pharmacology to record the force of cardiac contractions in isolated animal heart preparations. This classic apparatus was a pivotal tool for studying cardiac mechanics and was critical for demonstrating the foundational Frank-Starling law of the heart.