cardiac cycle

noun

one complete heartbeat, consisting of one contraction and relaxation of the heart.

Words nearby cardiac cycle

cardiac arrest, cardiac arrhythmia, cardiac asthma, cardiac catheter, cardiac cirrhosis, cardiac cycle, cardiac decompression, cardiac dysrhythmia, cardiac edema, cardiac ganglion, cardiac gland

Medical definitions for cardiac cycle

cardiac cycle

n.

A complete beat of the heart, including systole and diastole and the intervals between, beginning with any event in the heart's action to the moment when that same event is repeated.

Scientific definitions for cardiac cycle

cardiac cycle

The rhythmic contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole) of the chambers of the heart that corresponds to one heartbeat. During the cardiac cycle, blood is pumped out of the heart into the aorta and the pulmonary artery, and blood reenters the heart from the venae cavae and the pulmonary veins. The heart's valves open and close in response to pressure differences between the chambers.