cardiac cycle
Medical term EKG and Cardiovascular Testing
One complete heartbeat: contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole) of the chambers.
Sources
Related terms
- diastoleThe phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle relaxes and the chambers fill.
- systoleThe phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle contracts.
- atrial fibrillationA fast, irregular rhythm in which the atria quiver instead of contracting; it raises stroke risk.
- atrial flutterA fast, regular atrial rhythm with a sawtooth pattern on the EKG.
- AV nodeAtrioventricular node: tissue between the atria and ventricles that receives the impulse from the SA node…
- bundle of HisConduction fibers that carry the impulse from the AV node through the wall between the ventricles.
- cardiac outputThe amount of blood the heart pumps in one minute.
- defibrillationDelivering an electric shock to the heart to stop a life-threatening rhythm so a normal rhythm can return.
- depolarizationThe electrical change in heart or nerve cells that triggers contraction or a signal.
- dysrhythmiaAn abnormal heart rhythm; also called arrhythmia.