Fig 14. Visual representation of the interplay between the FS mechanism, vascular filling, and LDA.

LDA, a cellular property, underlies the FS mechanism. The latter occurs at the organ scale on a beat-to-beat basis. LDA also underlies the motivation for vascular filling therapy. As vascular filling takes place, a new steady state is obtained after several heartbeats and a new stroke volume is achieved. Stroke volume, preload, and filling are variables which also impact or depend on cardiovascular-level variables, such as afterload. Each curve is a qualitative curve, as this figure is built from the qualitative conclusions of our study.