In heart failure, systolic dysfunction refers to a problem with which function of the heart?

In heart failure, systolic dysfunction specifically refers to the heart's impaired ability to pump blood effectively from the ventricles during contraction. This type of dysfunction is characterized by a reduced ejection fraction, meaning that the heart does not expel an adequate volume of blood with each heartbeat.

During systolic heart failure, the myocardial contractility—the strength and efficiency with which the heart muscle contracts—is compromised. As a result, the heart struggles to generate sufficient pressure to propel blood into the systemic circulation. This leads to symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and fluid retention, which are typical manifestations of heart failure.

In this context, the other options relate to different aspects of heart function. For instance, filling pertains to diastolic function, which deals with how well the ventricles fill with blood. Relaxation also involves diastolic processes that affect how the heart accommodates incoming blood. While these functions are crucial for overall heart health, they are not the focal point when discussing systolic dysfunction, which is primarily defined by the heart's contractile performance during systole.