Aortic stenosis is a heart valve disorder where the opening of the aortic semi-lunar valve is narrowed. Which effect might aortic stenosis have on the structure and function of the heart?
- AThe cardiac muscle of the left ventricle wall is thinned by blood leaking out of the left ventricle during ventricular diastole.
- BThere is less cardiac muscle in the left ventricle and reduced diastolic blood pressure, caused by the smaller blood volume entering the left atrium.
- CThe tendons of the heart valves are weakened by blood being forced back through the left atrio-ventricular (bicuspid) valve into the left atrium.
- DThe wall of the left ventricle thickens, leading to an enlarged heart and inability to relax and fill completely during diastole.