CAMRT Radiography Practice Exam

During which phase is the pressure in the ventricles highest?

1. Diastole

2. Systole

3. Isovolumetric contraction

4. Ventricular filling

The correct answer is: Systole

The correct answer is that the pressure in the ventricles is highest during systole. This is the phase of the cardiac cycle when the ventricles contract to pump blood out of the heart. The contraction of the heart muscle increases ventricular pressure significantly, allowing blood to be ejected into the aorta and pulmonary artery. This phase is crucial for maintaining effective circulation. During diastole, the heart muscles relax and the ventricles fill with blood, resulting in lower pressure. Isovolumetric contraction occurs at the beginning of systole when the ventricles contract but the valves are closed, which does lead to a rise in pressure, but it doesn't reach the peak pressure seen during the full systolic ejection phase. Ventricular filling is a part of diastole where the pressure is lower as blood is flowing into the ventricles from the atria. Hence, it's during systole that the highest pressure is generated within the ventricles.