Body Atlas

How the Heart Beats · Heart

What happens first in a heartbeat?

A coordinated cycle of filling and pumping.

The simple answer

A heartbeat isn't a single thump. It's a cycle — your heart fills with blood, then pushes it out, with every part timed to work together.

Go deeper

There's more: a coordinated cycle of filling and pumping. The full explanation — and the interactive version you can tap and quiz yourself on — lives in the app.

Explore this concept in Body Atlas →

Body Atlas is an educational product. It does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical advice. · Privacy