What does End-Diastolic Volume (EDV) measure?

End-Diastolic Volume (EDV) specifically refers to the volume of blood contained in the ventricles of the heart at the end of the diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle, just before the ventricles contract. During diastole, the heart relaxes and allows blood to fill the ventricles from the atria, leading to an increase in their volume. This measurement is crucial for understanding the preload, which affects stroke volume and overall cardiac output.

Being aware of EDV is essential for evaluating heart function and diagnosing various cardiac conditions. The other options focus on different phases of the cardiac cycle, such as the volume remaining after contraction (which refers to End-Systolic Volume), total blood volume in the body, or the amount of blood ejected with each heartbeat (which is the stroke volume). These distinctions highlight the importance of understanding EDV within the broader context of cardiovascular physiology.