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[[Image:Heart systole.svg|thumb|Ventricular systole. Red arrow is path from left ventricle to aorta. Afterload is largely dependent upon aortic pressure.]]
In [[cardiology|cardiac]] [[physiology]], '''afterload''' is used to measure the tension produced by a chamber of the [[heart]] in order to [[contraction|contract]].<ref>{{DorlandsDict|one/000002136|afterload}}</ref>  If the chamber is not mentioned, it is usually assumed to be the [[left ventricle]].

However, the strict definition of the term "afterload" relates to the properties of a single [[cardiomyocyte]]. It is therefore only of direct relevance in the laboratory; in the clinic, the term "end-systolic pressure" is usually more appropriate, although not equivalent.

Afterload can also be described as the pressure that the chambers of the heart have to generate in order to eject blood out of the heart and thus is a consequence of the [[aortic pressure]] (for the left ventricle) and [[pulmonary artery pressure]] (for the right ventricle), since the pressure in the left and right ventricles must be greater than the systemic and pulmonary pressure in order to open the [[aortic valve]] and [[pulmonic valve]], respectively. Study of [[pressure gradient]]s across the aortic and pulmonic valves are well documented with the AoV and PV open in [[Systole (medicine)|systole]] and closed in [[diastole]]. Everything else held equal, as afterload increases, [[cardiac output]] decreases.

Mathematical definition of afterload remains elusive to contemporary medical imaging. [[Cardiac imaging]] is a somewhat limited modality in defining afterload because it is greatly incumbent upon interpretation of volumetric data. Prior work defining [[end diastolic volume]] (EDV) is mathematically close to afterload but is better matched to [[preload]].

Preload best describes the maximum viscous blood volume/mass of end [[diastole]] while afterload better describes the maximum tension/compliance state of the semisolid myocardial muscle mass in end [[Systole (medicine)|systole]]. Precise mathematical labeling of afterload and preload is a further challenge since both maximum measurements (volume/tension) occur simultaneously in the late time phase of systole. More simply stated, preload is well addressed by computational interpretation of imaging-derived blood volumetric data. Afterload remains beholden to definition of myocardial muscle work and is perhaps still better illustrated on a chalkboard.

==Pathology==

Disease processes that increase the [[left ventricle|left ventricular]] afterload include elevated [[blood pressure]] and [[aortic valve]] disease.

Systemic [[hypertension]] (HTN) (elevated blood pressure) increases the left ventricular afterload because the left ventricle has to work harder to eject blood into the aorta.  This is because the aortic valve won't open until the pressure generated in the left ventricle is higher than the elevated blood pressure in the aorta.<ref name='Homoud2008'>{{cite web|url=http://ocw.tufts.edu/data/50/636804.pdf |title=Introduction to Cardiovascular Pathophysiology |accessdate=2010-05-04 |last=Homoud |first=MK |date=Spring 2008 |work=Tufts Open Courseware |publisher=Tufts University|page=10 }}</ref>

Pulmonary [[hypertension]] (PH) is increased blood pressure within the right heart leading to the lungs. PH indicates a regionally applied increase in afterload dedicated to the right side of the heart, divided and isolated from the left heart by the intraventricular [[Cardiac septum]].  

[[Aortic stenosis]] increases afterload because the left ventricle has to overcome the pressure gradient caused by the stenotic aortic valve in addition to the blood pressure in order to eject blood into the [[aorta]]. For instance, if the blood pressure is 120/80, and the aortic valve stenosis creates a trans-valvular gradient of 30 [[mmHg]], the left ventricle has to generate a pressure of 110 mmHg in order to open the aortic valve and eject blood into the aorta.

[[Aortic insufficiency]] increases afterload because a percentage of the blood that is ejected forward regurgitates back through the diseased aortic valve.  This leads to elevated [[Systole (medicine)|systolic]] blood pressure. The diastolic blood pressure would fall, due to regurgitation. This would result in an increase pulse pressure.

[[Mitral regurgitation]] ''decreases'' the afterload.  During ventricular systole, regurgitant blood flows backwards through a leaking [[mitral valve]] in addition to blood that is properly ejected through the aortic valve.  With an extra pathway for blood flow through the mitral valve, the left ventricle does not have to work as hard to eject its blood, i.e. there is a decreased afterload.<ref name='KlabundeMR2007'>{{cite web|url=http://www.cvphysiology.com/Heart%20Disease/HD009c.htm |title=Mitral Regurgitation |accessdate=2010-01-01 |last=Klabunde RE |date=2007-04-05 |work=Cardiovascular Physiology Concepts |publisher=Richard E. Klabunde }}</ref>  Afterload is largely dependent upon aortic pressure.

== See also ==
* [[Preload (cardiology)|Preload]]
* [[Cardiac output]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{eMedicineDictionary|afterload}}
* [http://www.cvphysiology.com/Cardiac%20Function/CF008.htm Overview at cvphysiology.com]

{{Cardiovascular physiology}}

[[Category:Cardiology]]

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