systole

noun

sys·​to·​le ˈsi-stə-(ˌ)lē 

: a rhythmically recurrent contraction

especially : the contraction of the heart by which the blood is forced out of the chambers and into the aorta and pulmonary artery compare diastole

systolic

si-ˈstä-lik 

adjective

Examples of systole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When the person in the image was black, participants who had to react during systole were more likely to shoot unarmed individuals, than people primed with the same image during diastole. —Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 17 Jan. 2017

At systole, when the heart contracts, the valves at the bases of the great vessels (pulmonic and aortic) open, while those between the atria and ventricles (tricuspid and mitral) close. —Tony Dajer, Discover Magazine, 18 June 2022

The systole of the pandemic presented other opportunities, however. —A Universe, Vulture, 19 May 2022

Their 2014 study showed that the amygdala is more active during systole, the result of regular jolts of activity from the heart-monitoring baroreceptors. —Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 17 Jan. 2017

The researchers found that during systole, people tended to perceive fearful faces more intensely. —Quanta Magazine, 6 July 2020

Instead, the participants responded more fearfully to all the shapes that were presented at systole. —Quanta Magazine, 6 July 2020

Word History

Etymology

Greek systolē, from systellein to contract, from syn- + stellein to send

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

systole

noun

sys·​to·​le ˈsis-tə-lē 

: the contraction of the heart by which the blood is forced onward and the circulation kept up compare diastole

Medical Definition

systole

noun

sys·​to·​le ˈsis-tə-(ˌ)lē 

: the contraction of the heart by which the blood is forced onward and the circulation kept up compare diastole sense 1

systolic

sis-ˈtäl-ik 

adjective