What change occurs in the heart during atrial systole?

Study for the CCI Echocardiography Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

During atrial systole, the atria contract, which serves to push blood into the ventricles. This phase of the cardiac cycle ensures that the ventricles are filled with blood, preparing them for the next phase of contraction (ventricular systole). The contraction of the atria increases pressure in the atrial chambers, causing the blood to flow through the open atrioventricular (AV) valves into the ventricles.

While the other options describe some functions of the heart, they do not accurately represent what occurs specifically during atrial systole. For example, blood being pumped to the lungs or the body typically occurs during ventricular systole, when the ventricles contract. Ventricular relaxation occurs in diastole, after the ventricles have contracted and is not related to the events of atrial systole. Understanding the role of atrial systole is crucial for grasping the overall function and phases of the cardiac cycle.

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