The Cardiac Cycle, Heart Sounds and Blood Pressure

Cardiac Cycle
Pertains to the sequence of events that happen when the heart beats. There are 3 phases in the
cardiac cycle: Diastole of all the chambers of the heart, the systole of the atria, and the systole of
the ventricles. One cardiac cycle is completed as the heart is filled with blood and the blood is
pumped out of the heart.
1. Diastole phase of all the chambers of the heart-during the diastole phase, all the heart
chambers are relaxed. The right atrium receives blood from the vena cava. The left atrium
receives blood from the pulmonary veins. At this point, the atrioventricular valves are
open, allowing blood to flow freely into the ventricles. This phase lasts for only about 0.4
seconds. At this point, the semilunar valves are closed, preventing the blood flow in the
ventricles.
2. Systole phase of the atria- the atria contract briefly for only about 0.1 second. This brief
contraction completely fills the ventricles with blood. At this point, the atrioventricular
valves are open, while the semilunar valves are closed, preventing the backflow of blood
to the ventricles.
3. Systole phase of the ventricles- During the systole phase of the ventricles, the
atrioventricular valves are closed and semilunar valves open. Contraction of the right
ventricle forces blood to the lungs via pulmonary artery. Contraction of the left ventricle
forces oxygenated blood to the different parts of the body via aorta. The aorta branches
out to provide oxygenated blood to all parts of the body.
Heart Sounds and How they are Produced
As the chambers of the heart alternately contract and relax, distinctive heart sounds are produced.
Such heart sounds are detected when a stethoscope is put against the chest. The normal heart
sound is typically describes as “lub-dub”. The sounds are also called heartbeats. A stethoscope
can detect heart sounds.
The first sound “lub” (S1) Is usually softer in pitch and longer in duration. The vibrations of the
ventricles when they contract and the closing of the atrioventricular valves produce it.
The second sound “dub” (S2) is higher in pitch and shorter in duration. The vibrations of the
closing of the semilunar valves are produce it. Just by listening to the heart sounds, the doctor is
provided with a wealth of information regarding the state or condition of the heart.
Blood Pressure and its Measurement
Blood pressure (BP) is the force exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of the blood vessels.
Blood pressure is obtained using an instrument called sphygmomanometer. Blood pressure is
always given in two numbers. One number is written above or below the other number . Both
numbers are important. For example, the blood pressure is 120 over 80. the number above (120)
is the systolic pressure; while the number below (80) is the diastolic pressure. At rest, the heart
beats from 60 to 70 times per minute. Blood pressure is at its highest every time the heart beats
(called systolic pressure). In between beats, blood pressure falls. This is because every in
between beats, the heart is at rest, (called diastolic pressure).
A sphygmomanometer, a.k.a. a blood pressure monitor, or blood pressure gauge, is a device
used to measure blood pressure, composed of an inflatable cuff to collapse and then release the
artery under the cuff in a controlled manner, and a mercury or aneroid manometer to measure the
pressure. 
Blood Pressure is also the force that moves the blood from the heart to the different blood
vessels. The pressure causes the arteries to rhythmically stretch. Such stretching of the artery
caused by the pressure of the blood is called pulse. Pulse occurs as the artery bulges during each
heartbeat. In the body, pulse is readily distinguished in the following parts of the body.

1.Temporal artery- at the temple above and to the outer side of the eye
2.Facial artery – at the point of crossing the mandible
3.Carotid artery- on both sides of the neck
4.Brachial artery- on the inner side of the biceps
5.Radial artery- on the radial side of the wrist
6.Femoral artery- on the groin
7.Popliteal artery- behind the knee
8.Dorsalis pedis artery- at the anterosuperior aspect of the foot.