The cardiac cycle stage 1

Blood must continuously be moved around the body, collecting and supplying
vitalsubstances to cells as well as removing waste from them. The heart acts as
a pumpusing a combination ofsystole (contractions)anddiastole
(relaxation)of thechambers. The cycle takes place in the following sequence:

Stage 1-Ventricular diastole, atrial

systole- Both ventricles relax
simultaneously. Thisresults in lower pressure
in each ventriclecompared to each atrium
above. Theatrioventricular valves open
partially. This isfollowed by the atria
contracting which forcesblood through the
atrioventricular valves. Italso closes the
valves in the vena cava andpulmonary vein.
This preventsbackflow of blood.

Stage 2
Stage 2-Ventricular systole, atrial diastole- Both
atria then relax. Both ventricles contractsimultaneously.
This results in higher pressurein the ventricles
compared to the atria above.The difference in pressure
closes eachatrioventricular valve. This prevents
backflow ofblood into each atrium. Higher pressure in
theventricles compared to the aorta andpulmonary
artery opens the semi-lunar valvesand blood is ejected
into these arteries. Soblood flows through the systemic
circulatorysystem via the aorta and vena cava
andthrough the lungs via the pulmonary vessels.

Stage 3-Ventricular diastole, atrial

diastole-Immediately following ventricular
systole, bothventricles and atria relax for a short
time. Higherpressure in the aorta and pulmonary
artery thanin the ventricles closes the semi-lunar
valves. Thisprevents the backflow of blood. Higher
pressurein the vena cava and pulmonary vein than
in theatria results in the refilling of the atria.

The cardiac cycle

Returning to Stage 1,the cycle beginsagain. The

hormoneadrenaline increasesthe heart rate stillfurther. Even
yourexaminations mayincrease your heartrate.
The whole sequence above isone cardiac cycle or heartbeatand
ittakes less thanone second. The number of heartbeats per minute
varies to suit the activity of anorganism. Vigorous exercise is
accompanied by an increase in heart rate to allowfaster collection,
supply and removal of substances because of enhanced bloodflow.
Conversely during sleep, at minimum metabolic rate, heart rate
iscorrespondingly low because of minimum requirements by the cells.