What is the meaning of systolic blood pressure?

Systolic blood pressure refers specifically to the pressure in the arteries when the heart's ventricles contract and pump blood out into the circulation. This phase of the cardiac cycle is crucial as it indicates the maximum pressure exerted on the arterial walls during each heartbeat. This measurement is essential for assessing cardiovascular health, as elevated systolic pressure can be a sign of health issues such as hypertension.

While other options refer to different phases of the heart's activity—such as relaxation during diastole or average pressure—they do not accurately describe what systolic blood pressure is. Understanding this distinction is important for accurately interpreting blood pressure readings and assessing overall cardiovascular function.