Past exam of the mathematical physiology course of the University of Oxford 2011 2 c Solution 2026-10-31
During ejection the mitral valve is closed, so . Adding the arterial and ventricular balances cancels aortic flow:where the last approximation assumes .
Model the rapid contraction as a switch to approximately constant systolic elastance , with the systolic ventricular compliance. A sufficiently small aortic-valve resistance makes after a short pressure-equalization transient. The systolic pressure must be high enough to open the valve, . During that transient neglect systemic runoff. Conservation of combined arterial and stressed ventricular volume givessoThis is an approximation across a rapid transient, not a discontinuity at finite valve resistance. The subsequent common pressure obeys , givingThe source's in this expression denotes the same systemic resistance .
At the end of firing, the remaining ventricular volume is . The stroke volume is , henceThe assumptions are a closed mitral valve throughout ejection, negligible venous pressure, rapid valve equalization relative to systemic runoff, and nearly constant systolic elastance during the interval measured by . These give the ventricular ejection pressure and stroke-volume approximation.