What it means
The contraction phase of the heart cycle. When people say systole they usually mean the ventricleVEN-trih-kulOne of the two lower chambers of the heart, or one of the fluid-filled spaces inside the brain.Full entry s squeezing and pushing blood into the lungs and the body. It starts at the first heart sound (S1), when the valves between the upper and lower chambers close. The pressure in the arteries at this moment is the systolic pressuresis-TOL-ik PRESH-erThe top number in a blood pressure reading: the pressure in the arteries while the heart pumps.Full entry . The resting phase is diastoledy-AS-tuh-leeThe part of each heartbeat when the heart muscle relaxes and the chambers fill with blood.Full entry .
Remember it
Systole squeezes; diastole dilates and fills.
At a glance
| Spanish | sístole |
|---|---|
| Also written | systoles, systolic |
Easy to confuse with
diastole
The part of each heartbeat when the heart muscle relaxes and the chambers fill with blood.
Related terms
ventricle
One of the two lower chambers of the heart, or one of the fluid-filled spaces inside the brain.
cardiac output
The amount of blood the heart pumps out in one minute.
diastole
The part of each heartbeat when the heart muscle relaxes and the chambers fill with blood.
systolic pressure
The top number in a blood pressure reading: the pressure in the arteries while the heart pumps.