Question:

The 'c' wave of the jugular venous pulse (JVP) is seen during which phase of the cardiac cycle?

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The closed tricuspid valve bulges into the right atrium as ventricular pressure spikes.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
  • Isovolumetric contraction
  • Slow filling at end of diastole
  • End of systole
  • Start of diastole
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: The jugular venous pulse (and the atrial pressure curve) has three positive waves - a, c, v - and two descents - x and y. Each reflects a specific event in the right side of the heart.
Step 2: The 'c' wave is produced by bulging of the closed tricuspid valve back into the right atrium. This bulging happens because right ventricular pressure rises sharply during isovolumetric (isovolumic) contraction, pushing the AV valve toward the atrium.
Step 3: Therefore the 'c' wave corresponds to early ventricular systole, specifically the isovolumetric contraction phase, making option (a) correct.
Step 4: The other choices are wrong: the 'a' wave occurs with atrial contraction (just before systole), the 'v' wave occurs at the end of systole due to atrial filling against a closed tricuspid valve, and the slow diastolic filling phase corresponds to the y descent region, not the 'c' wave.
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