The Cardiovascular System: Cardiac Cycle

1. Valves open in response to difference in blood pressure on their two sides.

2. List the chambers/vessels that the four valves connect:

Chamber Chamber/Vessel

Right ventricle Pulmonary Semilunar Pulmonary trunk

Left ventricle Aortic Semilunar Semilunar aorta

Left atrium Left AV Left ventricle

Right atrium Right AV Right ventricle

3. a. Ventricular filling occurs during mid to late ventricular diastole .

b. Blood flows through the AV or mitral/tricuspid valves into the ventricles.

4. During Ventricular Systole, what closes the AV valves?

Intraventricular pressure is greater than atrial pressure

5. During Ventricular Systole, what opens the semilunar valves?

Intraventricular pressure is greater than pressure in the pulmonary trunk and aorta

6. During Isovolumetric Relaxation, what closes the semilunar valves?

Bloodflow back toward the heart- due to aortic pressure being greater than intraventricular pressure

7. During Isovolumetric Relaxation, what opens the AV valves?

Atrial pressure is greater than intraventricular pressure

8. Why is hypertension hard on the heart? Is it increased preload or afterload?

With hypertension, the ventricular pressure must rise higher to open the semilunar valves. For the same
increase in pressure in a normotensive person, less blood is ejected in a hypertensive person. Thus, the
heart of someone with hypertension must work harder to eject the same stroke volume due to an increased
afterload.

9. How can stroke volume be calculated?

STROKE VOLUME = (End-diastolic volume)-(End-systolic volume)

10. During the four phases listed below, state whether the AV and semilunar
valves are opened or closed:

AV valves Semilunar valves

Ventricular Filling Opened Closed

Isovolumetric Contraction Closed Closed

Ventricular Ejection Closed Opened

Isovolumetric Relaxation Closed Closed