In aortic valve stenosis, which changes are experienced in the heart?

In aortic valve stenosis, which changes are experienced in the heart?

• A. Decreased thickness in the myocardium and increased chamber volume
• B. No change in thickness or chamber volume
• C. Increased thickness in the myocardium and decreased chamber volume
• D. Increased thickness with increased chamber volume

Answer: (C)

Aortic valve stenosis creates pressure overload on the left ventricle, so the heart adapts by adding sarcomeres in parallel, causing concentric hypertrophy. This thickens the ventricular wall while reducing the size of the chamber, because the LV radius decreases as the wall becomes thicker. This architectural change helps normalize wall stress under higher afterload, at least until later stages when diastolic filling becomes more problematic. So the heart shows increased myocardial thickness with decreased chamber volume, which matches the described pattern.

Aortic valve stenosis creates pressure overload on the left ventricle, so the heart adapts by adding sarcomeres in parallel, causing concentric hypertrophy. This thickens the ventricular wall while reducing the size of the chamber, because the LV radius decreases as the wall becomes thicker. This architectural change helps normalize wall stress under higher afterload, at least until later stages when diastolic filling becomes more problematic. So the heart shows increased myocardial thickness with decreased chamber volume, which matches the described pattern.