The cardiac cycle describes the sequence of events in one heartbeat. It involves systole, the contraction of the ventricles, and diastole, the relaxation of the ventricles. During atrial systole, the atria contract and blood passes to the relaxed ventricles. During ventricular systole, the ventricles contract and force blood out through the arteries. During diastole, the ventricles relax and blood flows back into the atria from the veins, completing the cycle.