| Starling's curve | A graph in which cardiac output or stroke volume is plotted against mean atrial or ventricular end-diastolic pressure; with increasing venous return and atrial pressure the output proportionately increases until further increments overload the heart and the output falls. Synonym: Frank-Starling curve. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| Starling's hypothesis | The principle that net filtration through capillary membranes is proportional to the transmembrane hydrostatic pressure difference minus the transmembrane oncotic pressure difference; although well established, it is called Starling's hypothesis to distinguish it from Starling's law of the heart. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Starling's law | The energy liberated by the heart when it contracts is a function of the length of its muscle fibres at the end of diastole. Synonym: Starling's law. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Starling's reflex | Tapping the volar surfaces of the fingers causes flexion of the fingers; analogous to Rossolimo's reflex, for the toes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| starling | 1. <ornithology> Any passerine bird belonging to Sturnus and allied genera. The European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is dark brown or greenish black, with a metallic gloss, and spotted with yellowish white. It is a sociable bird, and builds about houses, old towers, etc. Called also stare, and starred. The pied starling of India is Sternopastor contra. 2. <zoology> A California fish; the rock trout. 3. A structure of piles driven round the piers of a bridge for protection and support; called also sterling. Rose-coloured starling. Origin: OE. Sterlyng, a dim. Of OE. Stare, AS. Staer; akin to AS. Stearn, G. Star, staar, OHG. Stara, Icel. Starri, stari, Sw. Stare, Dan. Staer, L. Sturnus. Cf. Stare a starling. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| Starling, Ernest | <person> English physiologist, 1866-1927. See: Starling's curve, Starling's hypothesis, Starling's law, Starling's reflex, Frank-Starling curve. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Frank-Starling curve | A graph in which cardiac output or stroke volume is plotted against mean atrial or ventricular end-diastolic pressure; with increasing venous return and atrial pressure the output proportionately increases until further increments overload the heart and the output falls. Synonym: Frank-Starling curve. (05 Mar 2000) |