The cardiac cycle and cardiac output

Question 1

define the cardiac cycle

Answer 1

the sequence of events that occurs in one complete beat of the heart.

Question 2

systole

Answer 2

the pumping phase of the cycle, when the heart muscle contracts.

Question 3

diastole

Answer 3

the filling phase, when the heart muscle relaxes.

Question 4

explain what happens when both the atria and ventricles are in diastole

Answer 4

during this phase the atria fill with blood and the ventricles also receive blood as the valves between them are open.

Question 5

what happens in atria systole?

Answer 5

the contraction of the atria, then follows and forces the remaining blood into the ventricles. the atria then relax and refill while the ventricles contract in ventricular systole.

Question 6

what happens in ventricular systole?

Answer 6

ventricular systole forces blood into the arteries.

Question 7

define cardiac output

Answer 7

the volume of blood pumped from one ventricle of the heart in one minute.

Question 8

define heart rate

Answer 8

the number of times the heart beats per minute.

Question 9

define stroke volume

Answer 9

the volume of blood forced from a ventricle of the heart with each contraction.

Question 10

how is cardiac output calculated?

Answer 10

cardiac output (mL/minute)= stroke volume (mL) x heart rate (beats/minute)