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Related Concept Videos

Cardiac Cycle01:29

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...
Aortic Regurgitation I: Introduction01:15

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...
Mitral Regurgitation I: Introduction01:20

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...
The Cardiac Cycle01:13

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...
Physiology of the Heart: The Cardiac Cycle01:18

Physiology of the Heart: The Cardiac Cycle

The cardiac cycle describes the events from one heartbeat to the next. It includes three main phases: diastole, atrial systole, and ventricular systole, all driven by changes in chamber pressures and the function of heart valves.
Diastole: The Relaxation Phase
During diastole, all four heart chambers relax. The atrioventricular (AV) valves open, and the semilunar valves close. This phase sees the lowest chamber pressures, promoting ventricular filling. Venous blood enters the heart through the...
Korotkoff Sounds01:12

Korotkoff Sounds

Korotkoff sounds are the specific sounds heard while measuring blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer, typically with a stethoscope or a Doppler device. They are named after Russian physician Nikolai Korotkov, who first described them in 1905. These sounds correspond to turbulent blood flow in the artery as the blood pressure cuff is gradually released after inflation.
During blood pressure assessment, inflating the cuff 30 millimeters of mercury above the patient's systolic blood pressure...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Quantification of Global Diastolic Function by Kinematic Modeling-based Analysis of Transmitral Flow via the Parametrized Diastolic Filling Formalism
11:04

Quantification of Global Diastolic Function by Kinematic Modeling-based Analysis of Transmitral Flow via the Parametrized Diastolic Filling Formalism

Published on: September 1, 2014

A new look at diastole.

Julien I E Hoffman1, Aman Mahajan, Cecil Coghlan

  • 1University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94920-1525, USA. julien.hoffman@ucsf.edu

Heart Failure Clinics
|July 5, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Left ventricular untwisting during diastole may involve active muscle contraction, not just elastic recoil. This challenges the traditional view of isovolumic relaxation and suggests new insights into diastolic dysfunction.

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Pulsed Wave Doppler Assessment of Diastolic Dysfunction in the ZSF-1 Rat Model of Pulmonary Hypertension Due to Left Heart Disease

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Quantification of Global Diastolic Function by Kinematic Modeling-based Analysis of Transmitral Flow via the Parametrized Diastolic Filling Formalism
11:04

Quantification of Global Diastolic Function by Kinematic Modeling-based Analysis of Transmitral Flow via the Parametrized Diastolic Filling Formalism

Published on: September 1, 2014

Pulsed Wave Doppler Assessment of Diastolic Dysfunction in the ZSF-1 Rat Model of Pulmonary Hypertension Due to Left Heart Disease
08:57

Pulsed Wave Doppler Assessment of Diastolic Dysfunction in the ZSF-1 Rat Model of Pulmonary Hypertension Due to Left Heart Disease

Published on: May 22, 2026

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Cardiac Mechanics
  • Ventricular Dynamics

Background:

  • The isovolumic period post-systole involves left ventricular (LV) untwisting.
  • Traditionally, this untwisting is attributed solely to passive elastic recoil.
  • Recent evidence suggests active muscle contraction contributes to this process.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of active muscle contraction during the isovolumic period.
  • To challenge the established understanding of isovolumic relaxation.
  • To explore alternative mechanisms for diastolic dysfunction.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing evidence on ventricular mechanics.
  • Analysis of myocardial band function during diastole.
  • Comparison of active vs. passive forces in LV untwisting.

Main Results:

  • Evidence indicates subepicardial muscle or the ascending spiral segment contracts during the isovolumic period.
  • This contraction contributes to LV untwisting.
  • Diastolic dysfunction may stem from discoordination of myocardial band segments.

Conclusions:

  • The isovolumic period involves active myocardial contraction, not just passive forces.
  • This active untwisting challenges the concept of purely isovolumic relaxation.
  • Discoordination of the myocardial band is a potential cause of diastolic dysfunction.