The Cardiac Cycle

Follow the events of the cardiac cycle and match them with a graph that shows changes in pressure within the left side of the heart and the aorta

Imagine there are pressure sensors in the left atrium and the left ventricle and the aorta: Find the lines on the graph for these three places

aorta ventricle

atrium

An electrocardiogram (ECG) for recording electrical activity in the heart

ECG trace P QRS T

Heart sounds you can hear these with a stethoscope

Now analyse this graph with a ruler Follow the changes as you move it along keep an eye on the time..it is along the top.

Now the cycle starts again

Note the points in the cycle when the valves open and close the heart sounds are made by the valves closing