3
Blood returning to the heart fills
atria, pressing against the AV valves.
The increased pressure forces AV
valves open.
As ventricles fill, AV valve flaps
hang limply into ventricles.
1
2
3
Atria contract, forcing additional
blood into ventricles.
Ventricles contract, forcing
blood against AV valve cusps.
AV valves close.
Papillary muscles contract and
chordae tendineae tighten,
preventing valve flaps from everting
into atria.
AV valves open; atrial pressure greater than ventricular pressure
AV valves closed; atrial pressure less than ventricular pressure
Direction of
blood flow
Cusp of
atrioventricular
valve (open)
Atrium
Chordae
tendineae
Papillary
muscle
Atrium
Cusps of
atrioventricular
valve (closed)
Blood in
ventricle
Ventricle
Figure 18.7 The atrioventricular (AV) valves.
(
m
V
)
+10
0
–10
–20
–30
–40
–50
–60
–70
Time (ms)
Action
potential
Threshold
Pacemaker
potential
1
2
3
Pacemaker potential This
slow depolarization is due to both
opening of Na
+
channels and
closing of K
+
channels. Notice
that the membrane potential is
never a flat line.
Depolarization The action
potential begins when the
pacemaker potential reaches
threshold. Depolarization is due
to Ca
2+
influx through Ca
2+
channels.
Repolarization is due to
Ca
2+
channels inactivating and
K
+
channels opening. This allows
K
+
efflux, which brings the
membrane potential back to its
most negative voltage.
(
m
V
)
+10
0
–10
–20
–30
–40
–50
–60
–70
Time (ms)
Action
potential
Threshold
Pacemaker
potential
1
2
3
Pacemaker potential This
slow depolarization is due to both
opening of Na
+
channels and
closing of K
+
channels. Notice
that the membrane potential is
never a flat line.
Depolarization The action
potential begins when the
pacemaker potential reaches
threshold. Depolarization is due
to Ca
2+
influx through Ca
2+
channels.
Repolarization is due to
Ca
2+
channels inactivating and
K
+
channels opening. This allows
K
+
efflux, which brings the
membrane potential back to its
most negative voltage.
H
g
)
EDV
SV
ESV
120
50
V
e
n
t
r
i
c
u
l
a
r
v
o
l
u
m
e
(
m
l
)
Atrioventricular valves
Aortic and pulmonary valves
Phase
Open Closed Open
Closed Open Closed
1 2a 2b 3 1
Left atrium
Right atrium
Left ventricle
Right ventricle
Ventricular
filling
Atrial
contraction
Isovolumetric
contraction phase
Ventricular
ejection phase
Isovolumetric
relaxation
Ventricular
filling
Ventricular filling
(mid-to-late diastole)
Ventricular systole
(atria in diastole)
Early diastole
1 2a 2b 3
Figure 18.21 Summary of events during the cardiac cycle.