Certified Cardiac Rehabilitation Professional (CCRP) Practice Test 2026 – Complete All-in-One Guide for Exam Success!

The term "diastole" specifically refers to the phase of the cardiac cycle when the heart muscle relaxes, allowing the ventricles to fill with blood. During this period, the pressure in the heart decreases, and the atrioventricular valves (the mitral valve and tricuspid valve) open to allow blood from the atria to flow into the ventricles. This filling phase is crucial for ensuring that there is enough blood in the ventricles to be pumped out during the subsequent contraction (systole).

In contrast, the other options pertain to different aspects of cardiac function: ejection of blood from the heart occurs during systole; heart contractions refer to the overall contraction of the heart muscle and typically relate to systole; and electrical impulse generation is associated with the heartbeat's pacing system, namely the sinoatrial (SA) node and subsequent conduction pathways throughout the heart. Understanding these distinctions is vital for grasping how the heart operates during its various phases.