1. Definitions Systole = period of ventricular contraction.
Diastole = period of ventricular relaxation.
NOTE:  Normally diastole is longer than systole.

2. Cardiac cycle General Principles
Contraction of the myocardium generates pressure changes which result in the orderly movement of blood.
Blood flows from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure, unless flow is blocked by a valve.
Events on the right and left sides of the heart are the same, but pressures are lower on the right.

3. Atrial systole
The heart is full of blood and the ventricles are relaxed
Both the atria contract and blood passes down to the ventricles
The atrio-ventricular valves open due to blood pressure
70% of the blood flows passively down to the ventricles so the atria do not have to contract a great amount.

4. Ventricular systole The atria relax.
The ventricle walls contract, forcing the blood out
The pressure of the blood forces the atrio- ventricular valves to shut (producing the heart sound ‘lub’)

5. Ventricular systole The pressure of blood opens the semi-lunar valves.
Blood passes into the aorta and pulmonary arteries.

6. Diastole The ventricles relax
Pressure in the ventricles falls below that in the arteries
Blood under high pressure in the arteries causes the semi lunar valves to shut. This produces the second heart sound, ‘dub’.
During diastole, all the muscle in the heart relaxes.

7. Blood from the vena cava and pulmonary veins enter the atria.
The whole cycle starts again.

9. Cardiac cycle Match the letter on the graph to the following events
Semi-lunar valves open
Atrio-ventricular valves close,
Semi-lunar valves close
Atrio-ventricular valves open

10. atrio-ventricular valves open

11. atrio-ventricular valves close
atrio-ventricular valves open

12. semi-lunar valves open
atrio-ventricular valves close
atrio-ventricular valves open

13. semi-lunar valves open
semi-lunar valves close
atrio-ventricular valves close
atrio-ventricular valves open

14. Describing the stages of the cardiac cycle
Complete the worksheet by describing each stage in each of the diagrams.

15. Cardiac Cycle flip-chart
Cut out the different stages in the cardiac cycle.
Arrange the stages so that they are in the correct order.
Staple the end of the pages together to create a flip book.
Use this book to help you remember the cardiac cycle and to answer practice exam questions!