The cardiac cycle

In a normal heart, cardiac activity is repeated in a regular cyclical manner. With a resting heart rate of 75 beats / minute, the duration of each cycle = o.8 second.

For the atria: The cycle consists of

o.15 second in systole and 0.65 second in diastole.

For the ventricles: The cycle

consists of 0.3 second in systole and 0.5 second in diastole.

The sequence of events in the whole heart

The sequence of events in the whole heart goes as follows: Atrial systole begins (while ventricles are in diastole), followed by ventricular systole (while the atria are in diastole), and then relaxation of the whole heart (for both atria and ventricles). It should be noted that atrial and ventricular systoles do not occur at the same time, but their diastoles occur at the same time during the diastole of the whole heart.

Phases of the cardiac cycle

There are three major phases of the cardiac cycle which are subdivided into 8 phases as follows:

I Atrial systole: o It is taken as the first Phase of the cardiac cycle. o Duration is 0.15 second. o During this phase the ventricles are in their late diastole. o Atrial systole pumps 25 % of the ventricular diastolic filling volume into the ventricle.
II Ventricular systole: It follows atrial systole. Duration is 0.3 second. The atria are now in diastole. It is subdivided into three phases:

Ventricular systole Cont.

(A) Isometric (or isovolumetric) contraction phase o In which the ventricles contract without change in volume. o Duration is 0.05 second. All cardiac valves are closed. o There is a sharp rise in the intraventricular pressure (from 0 80 mmHg) as illustrated in. Ejection of blood did not start yet.

Ventricular systole Cont.

(B) Rapid ejection phase o In which the aortic valve is opened and blood is ejected into the aorta at a high rate. o Duration is 0.15 second. (C) Slow ejection phase o In which ejection of blood continues but at a slower rate. o Duration is 0.10 second.

III Diastole of the whole heart

In which both atria and ventricles are in diastole . 75 % of the ventricular diastolic filling volume flows from the atria to fill the ventricles down a pressure gradient. It is subdivided into four phases: (a) Protodiastolic phase This is a transitional phase between end of the systole till the closure of the aortic valve. Duration is 0.04 second. During this phase, blood back flows in the aorta toward the left ventricle. This back flows shuts off the aortic valve at the end of the phase without any blood entering into the ventricle.

III Diastole of the whole heart Cont.

(b) Isometeric (isovolumeteric) relaxation phase In which the ventricle contract without change in volume. Duration is 0.06 second. All valves are closed. There is a sharp drop of intraventricular pressure (from 110 0 mm Hg in the left ventricle). Ventricular filling with blood did not start yet. (c) Rapid filling phase In which the A V valves (i.e., mitral and tricuspid valves) open and blood flows from the atria into the ventricles at a high rate. Duration is 0.1 second. During this phase, 55% of the ventricular diastolic filling volume flows into the ventricle.

III Diastole of the whole heart Cont.

(d) Slow filling phase which ventricular filling continues but at a slow rate. Duration is 0.15 second. During this phase 20 % of the ventricular filling volume flows into the ventricle.