Explain the difference between systole and diastole.

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Multiple Choice

Explain the difference between systole and diastole.

The main idea is that the heart’s cycle has two opposite phases: systole and diastole. Systole is the ventricular contraction that pushes blood out into the aorta and pulmonary trunk, causing ejection. Diastole is the ventricular relaxation phase during which the ventricles fill with blood from the atria. It’s important to recognize that diastole isn’t a time of complete rest—the heart muscle relaxes while filling occurs, and coronary arteries primarily receive blood flow during this period. In short, systole = ventricular contraction with blood ejection; diastole = ventricular relaxation with filling.

The main idea is that the heart’s cycle has two opposite phases: systole and diastole. Systole is the ventricular contraction that pushes blood out into the aorta and pulmonary trunk, causing ejection. Diastole is the ventricular relaxation phase during which the ventricles fill with blood from the atria. It’s important to recognize that diastole isn’t a time of complete rest—the heart muscle relaxes while filling occurs, and coronary arteries primarily receive blood flow during this period. In short, systole = ventricular contraction with blood ejection; diastole = ventricular relaxation with filling.

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