Ejection fraction

Ejection Fraction

Ejection fraction (pronunciation: ih-jek-shun frak-shun) is a measurement, expressed as a percentage, of how much blood the left ventricle pumps out with each contraction. This term is often used in the context of diagnosing and monitoring heart conditions.

Etymology

The term "ejection fraction" is derived from the Latin words "ejectio" meaning "a throwing out" and "fractio" meaning "a breaking". In medical terminology, it refers to the fraction of the total volume of blood that is ejected from the heart during each heartbeat.

Related Terms

Cardiology: The branch of medicine that deals with diseases and abnormalities of the heart.
Heart Failure: A chronic condition in which the heart doesn't pump blood as well as it should.
Left Ventricle: The chamber of the heart that pumps oxygenated blood to tissues all over the body.
Stroke Volume: The amount of blood pumped by the left ventricle of the heart in one contraction.
Cardiac Output: The amount of blood the heart pumps through the circulatory system in a minute.

Measurement

Ejection fraction is usually measured during an Echocardiogram, a type of ultrasound test that uses high-pitched sound waves sent through a device called a transducer. The device picks up echoes of the sound waves as they bounce off the different parts of your heart.

Normal and Abnormal Values

A normal ejection fraction is between 50 and 70 percent. An ejection fraction of 65 percent, for example, means that 65 percent of the total amount of blood in the left ventricle is pushed out with each heartbeat. An ejection fraction below 50 percent is considered reduced and may indicate heart disease.