If there is an S3 sound, in which phase of the cardiac cycle does it occur?

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Multiple Choice

If there is an S3 sound, in which phase of the cardiac cycle does it occur?

S3 is produced by the rapid filling of the ventricle early in diastole. Right after S2, blood flows quickly from the atria into the ventricle, and the sudden deceleration of that flow can generate this low-pitched sound. That timing places S3 in early ventricular diastole, not during ventricular systole or late diastole. Late diastole is associated with atrial contraction and the S4 sound, while systole occurs between S1 and S2. So the correct phase is early ventricular diastole.

S3 is produced by the rapid filling of the ventricle early in diastole. Right after S2, blood flows quickly from the atria into the ventricle, and the sudden deceleration of that flow can generate this low-pitched sound. That timing places S3 in early ventricular diastole, not during ventricular systole or late diastole. Late diastole is associated with atrial contraction and the S4 sound, while systole occurs between S1 and S2. So the correct phase is early ventricular diastole.

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