Of what physiological advantage would increased stroke volume (and its related effect on cardiac output) be to an animal that just ate a meal?
Increased stroke volume and its related effect on cardiac output would provide a physiological advantage to an animal that just ate a meal by facilitating better nutrient delivery and waste removal. When an animal consumes a meal, the digestive system needs to process and absorb the nutrients from the food, while it also needs to remove waste products produced during digestion.
Here's how the increased stroke volume and cardiac output would contribute to these processes:
1. Nutrient Delivery: After a meal, the body needs to transport the digested nutrients from the digestive system to various tissues and organs for energy production, growth, and repair. Increased stroke volume, which is the amount of blood pumped out of the heart with each contraction, and cardiac output, which is the volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute, would enhance the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to these tissues. This is because a larger stroke volume means more blood is ejected with each heartbeat, and a higher cardiac output means a greater volume of blood is pumped throughout the body per unit of time. Consequently, more oxygen and nutrients are transported to the organs and tissues, supporting their functional needs after a meal.
2. Waste Removal: In addition to nutrient delivery, increased stroke volume and cardiac output facilitate the removal of waste products generated during digestion. As the digestive system processes food, it produces metabolic waste such as carbon dioxide and various byproducts. These waste products need to be eliminated from the body to maintain homeostasis. With increased stroke volume and cardiac output, the blood flow to the kidneys and other organs involved in waste removal is enhanced. This heightened blood flow helps to efficiently carry away the waste products from the digestive system to be eliminated through urine, respiration, and other excretory mechanisms.
In summary, increased stroke volume and cardiac output after a meal provide the advantage of improved nutrient delivery and waste removal. This supports the metabolic needs of the body and helps maintain overall physiological balance.