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Cardiac Cycle

Cardiac Cycle

The cardiac cycle refers to the sequence of events that occur in the heart from the beginning of one heartbeat to the next. It's characterized by alternating periods of contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole) of the heart muscles.
During the cardiac cycle, blood flow through the heart is regulated entirely by changing pressure gradients. This sequence of events begins with the heart in a state of total relaxation, known as mid-to-late diastole, during which blood passively flows from...

The Cardiac Cycle

The Cardiac Cycle

The heart beats rhythmically in a sequence called the cardiac cycle—a rapid coordination of contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole).
The Process
Electrical signals—sent from the sinoatrial (SA) node in the right atrial wall to the atrioventricular (AV) node between the right atrium and right ventricle—cause both atria to simultaneously contract. When the signal reaches the AV node, it pauses for approximately a tenth of a second, allowing the atria to contract and empty blood into the...

Heart Valves

Heart Valves

The human heart is a complex organ with an intricate system of valves that regulate blood flow. There are two main types of valves: atrioventricular (AV) valves and semilunar valves.
The AV valves prevent the backflow of blood from the ventricles to the atria during ventricular contraction. These valves function with the assistance of the chordae tendineae and papillary muscles. When the ventricles are relaxed, the chordae tendineae are slack, allowing blood to flow from the atria into the...

Mitral Regurgitation I: Introduction

Mitral Regurgitation I: Introduction

Mitral regurgitation is characterized by the backward circulation of blood from the left ventricle to the left atrium during systole, a phase of the cardiac cycle when the heart contracts and pumps blood out of the chambers. This abnormal flow occurs primarily due to the dysfunction of the mitral valve or its supporting structures, which include the mitral leaflets, chordae tendineae, annulus, and papillary muscles.Etiology and Mechanisms:Primary Mitral Regurgitation: This type arises from...

Aortic Regurgitation I: Introduction

Aortic Regurgitation I: Introduction

IntroductionAortic regurgitation is characterized by the backward flow of blood from the aorta into the left ventricle during diastole and arises from the improper closure of the aortic valve. This condition results in left ventricular volume overload and can stem from both acute and chronic etiologies, each contributing uniquely to the disease's progression and symptomatology.Acute and Chronic CausesAcute aortic regurgitation often results from events that suddenly impair the integrity of the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Assessing Intracardiac Vortices with High Frame-Rate Echocardiography-Derived Blood Speckle Imaging in Newborns

Assessing Intracardiac Vortices with High Frame-Rate Echocardiography-Derived Blood Speckle Imaging in Newborns

Published on: December 22, 2023

Ventricular untwisting: a temporal link between left ventricular relaxation and suction.

Yuichi Notomi¹, Zoran B Popovic, Hirotsugu Yamada

¹Department of Cardiovascular Medicine/F15, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.

American Journal of Physiology. Heart and Circulatory Physiology

|November 23, 2007

Summary

Left ventricular untwisting begins early in diastole, releasing stored energy. Its rate strongly correlates with relaxation and pressure gradients, suggesting it

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Published on: June 15, 2020

Area of Science:

Cardiovascular Physiology
Cardiac Mechanics
Diastolic Function

Background:

Left ventricular (LV) untwisting releases elastic energy during diastole.
The relationship between untwisting, relaxation, and intraventricular pressure gradients (IVPG) is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the interaction between LV mechanics and diastolic inflow.
To clarify the relationship between LV untwisting, relaxation, and IVPG.

Main Methods:

Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) and catheter-derived pressures were used in anesthetized dogs.
LV torsion and untwisting rates were analyzed from high-temporal-resolution DTI.
Regression models assessed correlations between untwisting, relaxation (tau), and IVPG.

Main Results:

Peak LV untwisting rate correlated significantly with peak LV twisting, LV pressure decay (tau), and IVPG.
Multivariate analysis identified peak LV untwisting rate as an independent predictor of tau and IVPG.
LV untwisting began during isovolumic relaxation, preceding suction-aided filling.

Conclusions:

LV untwisting is closely linked to diastolic relaxation and IVPG.
Untwisting rate may serve as a valuable biomarker for diastolic function.
Targeting LV untwisting could be a therapeutic strategy for improving diastolic function.