Which term describes the contraction of the heart muscles?

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Multiple Choice

Which term describes the contraction of the heart muscles?

Explanation:
Contraction of the heart muscles is called systole. During systole the ventricles contract, raising pressure and ejecting blood into the pulmonary artery and the aorta, which is the pumping part of the cardiac cycle. The opposite phase, diastole, is when the heart relaxes and fills with blood. Other terms refer to specific parts of the cycle or to abnormal rhythms: isovolumetric contraction is an early part of systole when the valves are still closed, so the volume doesn’t change; isovolumetric relaxation is an early diastole phase with all valves closed; atrial fibrillation is an irregular rhythm of the atria. So, the contraction of the heart muscles is systole.

Contraction of the heart muscles is called systole. During systole the ventricles contract, raising pressure and ejecting blood into the pulmonary artery and the aorta, which is the pumping part of the cardiac cycle. The opposite phase, diastole, is when the heart relaxes and fills with blood. Other terms refer to specific parts of the cycle or to abnormal rhythms: isovolumetric contraction is an early part of systole when the valves are still closed, so the volume doesn’t change; isovolumetric relaxation is an early diastole phase with all valves closed; atrial fibrillation is an irregular rhythm of the atria. So, the contraction of the heart muscles is systole.

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