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Presenter: Emelia Mensah

Faculty Sponsor: Reena Randhir

School: Springfield Technical Community College

Research Area: Biology

Session: Poster Session 2, 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM, Auditorium, A38

ABSTRACT

The cardiac cycle, which includes systole and diastole, requires precise temporal coordination between atrial and ventricular muscle movements to achieve proper heart function and sufficient blood delivery to body tissues. The heart needs to beat at the right time to allow blood circulation while minimizing energetic cost and preserving its normal operating pattern. The breakdown of this coordination system between the heart and blood vessels leads to reduced cardiac performance and ultimately results in cardiovascular disease development and worsening of existing conditions.
The research investigates how cardiac cycle timing affects body functions by focusing on electromechanical coupling, while studying its effects on human health. The research used a structured, literature-based review to study ECG interpretation, heart sounds, and ventricular pressure–volume dynamics. It studies these factors to determine how electrical heart conduction affects heart mechanical function when the heart operates normally and when it develops heart disease, including conditions associated with conduction delays and impaired relaxation.
This study shows that tissue oxygen delivery becomes disrupted when temporal coordination breaks down, as ventricular filling and ejection become mechanically inefficient, while myocardial workload increases and cardiovascular performance decreases. The cardiac cycle demonstrates strong integration between electrical and mechanical processes because irregular electrical activity affects ventricular filling patterns, stroke volume, and ejection of blood, producing distinct acoustic changes during auscultation. The timing system produces unsteady patterns detectable across electrical and mechanical signals before patients reach advanced clinical deterioration. The correct timing of cardiac cycle events stands as a vital factor for maintaining hemodynamic efficiency, preserving cardiovascular wellness while helping ensure that the heart operates at peak efficiency, and supporting earlier identification of disease progression.