Control of Cardiac Output

Physiological regulation of cardiac output is achieved by controlling both heart rate and contractility. This involves, in order of importance: neural control, hormones, and intrinsic mechanisms.

It should also be noted that ultimately control of output depends on the heart having an adequate venous return (i.e. ventricular filling or ventricular preload is normal) and the resistance to ejection (i.e. ventricular afterload) is normal.