Wiggers diagram

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Wiggers diagram.Red = aortic pressureBlue = left ventricular pressureYellow = left atrial pressure.
Wiggers diagram.

Red = aortic pressure
Blue = left ventricular pressure
Yellow = left atrial pressure.

A Wiggers diagram is a standard diagram used in cardiac physiology.

The X axis is used to plot time, while the Y axis contains all of the following on a single grid:

By illustrating the coordinated variation of these values, it becomes easier to illustrate the relationship between these values in the cardiac cycle.

Contents

[edit] Etymology

It is named after Carl J. Wiggers. (The diagram is frequently incorrectly called a "Wigger's diagram". Although "Wiggers's diagram" would be grammatically correct, it is more frequently rendered "Wiggers diagram", with no apostrophe.)

[edit] Events

Phase EKG Heart sounds Aortic valve Mitral valve
A Atrial systole P S4* closed open
B Ventricular systole - Isovolumetric/isovolumic contraction QRS S1 ("lub") closed closed
C1 Ventricular systole - Ejection 1 - open closed
C2 Ventricular systole - Ejection 2 T open closed
D Ventricular diastole - Isovolumetric/isovolumic relaxation - S2 ("dub") closed closed
E1 Ventricular diastole - Ventricular filling 1 - S3* closed open
E2 Ventricular diastole - Ventricular filling 2 - closed open

Note that during isovolumetric/isovolumic contraction and relaxation, all the heart valves are closed. At no time are all the heart valves open.

  • S3 and S4 heart sounds are associated with pathologies and are not routinely heard.

[edit] Additional images

Ventricular systole

Cardiac diastole

ECG

The EKG complex. P=P wave, PR=PR interval, QRS=QRS complex, QT=QT interval, ST=ST segment, T=T wave


[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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Cardiovascular system, physiology: cardiovascular physiology
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