Cardiac Cycle: 1st Systole Phase. During the systole phase, the right ventricle receives impulses from the Purkinje fibers and contracts. The atrioventricular valves close and the semilunar valves open. The de-oxygenated blood is pumped into the pulmonary artery.
Congressional Salaries. As of 2012, the annual salary for any congressman, from first-term representatives to the most senior members -- except those holding leadership positions -- was set at $174,000. This was the compensation level set as of January 1, 2009, and frozen by law in the intervening years.
The 535 members of the current Congress earn a sizable salary, although a few other federal officials are paid more. Certain senators and representatives are quite wealthy. In 2011, a United States senator earned $174,000 per year. This rate was established in 2009 and was an increase from the prior salary of $169,300. In 2000, senators earned $141,300 per year. In 2011, members of the House of Representatives earned $174,000 per year, an amount identical to the salaries of the senators.