In cardiovascular physiology, ejection fraction (EF) represents the volumetric fraction of blood pumped out of the ventricle (heart) with each heart beat or cardiac cycle. It can be applied to either the right ventricle which ejects via the pulmonary valve into the pulmonary circulation or the left ventricle which ejects via the aortic valve into the systemic circulation.
Imaging of the physiology of the mammalian heart is the art that allows meaningful mathematical expression defining EF. Noninvasive cardiac imaging has become a worldwide utility enabling study of cardiac performance noninvasively, reproducibly and inexpensively. Simplified, Ejection fraction is a mathematical product allowed by cardiac imaging. As a mathematical term, Ejection Fraction is an extension of the work of Adolph Fick in cardiac output. Dedicated technology such as Echocardiography, Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging and MUGA scanning have definitively allowed clinically relevant mathematics regarding Ischemia, Congenital Heart Disease and Heart Failure.
RVEF and LVEF may vary widely from one another incumbent upon physiologic state. Ventricular dyssynchrony represents theoretical pathology in which the LVEF and RVEF combined may be less than 100%. Without a qualifier, the term ejection fraction basically refers to the blood output of the left ventricle.
Read more about Ejection Fraction: Overview, Normal Values, Measurement
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