systole

American  

[sis-tuh-lee, -lee] / ˈsɪs təˌli, -li /

noun

1. Physiology. the normal rhythmical contraction of the heart, during which the blood in the chambers is forced onward.

2. Classical Prosody. the shortening of a syllable regularly long.

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systole British  

/ sɪˈstɒlɪk, ˈsɪstəlɪ /

noun

1. contraction of the heart, during which blood is pumped into the aorta and the arteries that lead to the lungs Compare diastole

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systole Scientific  

/ sĭs′tə-lē /

1. The period during the normal beating of the heart in which the chambers of the heart, especially the ventricles, contract to force blood into the aorta and pulmonary artery.

2. Compare diastole

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Other Word Forms

• presystole noun
• systolic adjective

Etymology

Origin of systole

1570–80; < Greek systolḗ a drawing up, contraction, equivalent to sy- sy- + stolḗ pressure, originally, garment, equipment, equivalent to stol- (noun derivative of stéllein to send, place) + -ē feminine noun suffix; cf. diastole, systaltic

Explanation

During a heartbeat, the heart contracts and pumps blood into the aorta, a phase known as systole. In Greek, systole means "a drawing together or contraction." The rhythmic, repeated contraction of the heart muscle during systole is what allows it to push blood throughout the body. It's also part of what gets measured when you have your blood pressure taken: systolic blood pressure measures the force of the blood as it's being pumped into your arteries.

Example Sentences

During systole, the volunteers perceived time duration to be shorter than it actually was.

From Scientific American • Jun. 22, 2023

During systole, blood enters the arteries, and the artery walls stretch to accommodate the extra blood.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

The QT interval represents the time from the start of depolarization to repolarization of the ventricles, and includes the period of ventricular systole.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Atrial systole lasts approximately 100 ms and ends prior to ventricular systole, as the atrial muscle returns to diastole.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Some idea of them may be obtained from the alternating expansions and compressions or dilations and contractions in the heart and lungs, called in the heart systole and diastole, and in the lungs respirations.

From Angelic Wisdom about Divine Providence by Wunsch, William F.