Question

Aortic pressure is highest during ________?

1) atrial contraction
2) ventricular ejection
3) isovolumetric ventricular contraction
4) isovolumetric ventricular relaxation
5) ventricular diastole

Answer 1

Aortic pressure reaches its highest level during the ventricular ejection phase, when the left ventricle contracts and pumps blood into the aorta.

Step-by-step explanation:

Aortic pressure is highest during ventricular ejection (option 2). During the cardiac cycle, aortic pressure peaks when the left ventricle contracts and pushes blood into the aorta. The phase known as ventricular systole is when the ventricular pressure surpasses the pressure in the aorta, resulting in the opening of the semilunar valves and the subsequent ejection of blood.

This ejection of blood during ventricular systole occurs after the isovolumetric contraction phase where the pressure builds up but the semilunar valves have not yet opened. Once the pressure is high enough, the aortic valve opens, leading to the ventricular ejection phase. The pressure within the aorta reaches its highest point as the left ventricle pumps blood into the systemic circulation. It is at this point that we register the peak of aortic blood pressure within the cardiac cycle.