The cardiac cycle describes the sequence of events in one heartbeat. It involves contraction of the myocardium which generates pressure changes, causing blood to flow from areas of high pressure to low pressure through the heart's valves. The cycle includes atrial systole where the atria contract and push blood into the ventricles, followed by isovolumetric contraction where the ventricles contract but their volume does not change as the valves close. Then rapid ejection occurs as the ventricle pressure rises above the arteries and the valves open, pushing blood out of the heart. Reduced ejection follows as blood flows more slowly out of the ventricles until the valves close, ending ventricular systole.