Law of Laplace

According to the law of Laplace, left ventricular (LV) wall stress is directly proportional to the product of cavity pressure and radius and inversely proportional to wall thickness. An elevation in LV cavity pressure (as with aortic stenosis or hypertension) causes an increase in wall stress. If a hypertrophic response occurs, increasing thickness can return wall stress to normal. With LV chamber enlargement (as with mitral regurgitation, dilated cardiomyopathy, or infarct expansion) wall stress increases, unless there is an appropriate hypertrophic response.