INTERPRETATION OF

CARDIAC CYCLLE
WITH CORRESPONDING
ECG AND PRESSURE CHANGES

Sree Prasath
The vena cava pours the blood into the RA
Pressure Changes
and the PV into the LA. As a result of this,
the AV valves open and 85% of the atrial The atrium blood is at 10
Hg. At atrial systole the
blood falls into the ventricles. The remaining pressure becomes 12
15% I squeezed by atrial systole or atrial mm Hg. When this 12
contraction and sent into the ventricles. This mm Hg blood goes to
ventricles, the ventricles
was initiated by the action potential also at 12 mm Hg. But
generated by SA NODE. This is represented now the atrial pressure
drops to below 12 mm
in the P – WAVE. Hg.

As the ventricular systole

begins the high pressure
of ventricles relative to
Now all the blood is poured into the atria exert closing action
ventricles and thus the atria start undergoing on AV VALVES. The
aorta and PA are at 80
relaxation (atrial diastole). The ventricles mm Hg pressure always
are filled with blood right now. Now, the (recoiling mechanism).
action potential travels from SA NODE to AV As the ventricular
pressure rises from
NODE (Present at bottom left corner of the 12mm Hg to 120 mm Hg
right atrium) From these AV NODES signals all the blood from
ventricles get into
need to travel to the AV bundles which arteries.
further branch into let and right bundles and
then continue as Purkinjee fibers which
then come in contact with the ventricular The up and down curves
muscle. There is a transmission delay represent that the force
exerted by the left and right
between the travel of action potential to the chambers are recorded in
Purkinjee fibers. This delay denotes the flat opposite directions by the
leads that we connect (two in
line between the P WAVE AND QRS wrist and one in left ankle)
COMPLEX. (PR INTERVAL)
Now the ventricular muscle receives the
Pressure Changes
impulse and strong contraction leads to high
ventricular pressure that opens the semi The atrium blood is at 10
Hg. At atrial systole the
lunar valves. Now, the blood goes into the pressure becomes 12
arteries. Soon after this phase called as mm Hg. When this 12
ventricular systole (denoted by QRS mm Hg blood goes to
ventricles, the ventricles
COMPLEX). V.SYSTOLE – 0.3 SECONDS also at 12 mm Hg. But
THE VENTRICLE MUST START GOING now the atrial pressure
drops to below 12 mm
RELAXATION. But the actual ventricular Hg.
diastole starts after some delay which is
denoted by the ST segment. As the ventricular systole
begins the high pressure
of ventricles relative to
atria exert closing action
ST Segment denotes the plateau phase. on AV VALVES. The
This is also due to the change in the aorta and PA are at 80
mm Hg pressure always
directions of force exerted by endometrial (recoiling mechanism).
walls. The ST segment also corresponds to As the ventricular
a small delay before the ventricular diastole. pressure rises from
12mm Hg to 120 mm Hg
Then the ventricles undergo iso - volumetric all the blood from
relaxation which causes ionic disturbance ventricles get into
arteries.
that is denoted by the T WAVE
(VENTRICULAR REPOLARISATION)
The flat line between T WAVE and next P
The up and down curves
wave is passive filling and even atrial systole represent that the force
is a part of ventricular diastole. exerted by the left and right
chambers are recorded in
Ventricular diastole is divided into 4 parts opposite directions by the
and the last part is atrial systole. leads that we connect (two in
wrist and one in left ankle)

V.S – 0.3 S A.S – 0.1 S

V.D – 0.5 S A.D – 0.7 S
 THE ENTIRE CARDIAC CYCLE IS = 0.8S
So the cardiac cycle is to be interpreted or understood using only ventricular changes or
only atrial changes.

Atrial diastole

Atrial systole

Ventricular diastole

Ventricular systole
NOTES

JOINT DIASTOLE – 0.4 S

NOTES