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.

---

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

---

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

---

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, when new blood is entering the arteries, the artery walls stretch to accommodate the increase of pressure of the extra blood; during diastole, the walls return to normal because of their elastic properties.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

The blood pressure of the systole phase and the diastole phase gives the two pressure readings for blood pressure.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

The blood pressure of the systole phase and the diastole phase, graphed in Figure 31.20, gives the two pressure readings for blood pressure.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

In all the storm and stress, a rhythmic motion, a systole and diastole, a surging to and fro, as of vast masses of beings in the last extremity of peril, is apparent.

From Beethoven by Fischer, George Alexander