Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to systole: Pertaining to or occurring during the systole, which is the phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle contracts and pumps blood into the arteries.

Usage

• The adjective systolic is used primarily in medical and physiological contexts to describe pressure, function, or events associated with the contraction phase of the cardiac cycle.
• It is most commonly paired with the word "pressure" to form the term systolic pressure, which is the higher number in a blood pressure reading.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The doctor recorded a systolic pressure of 120 mmHg.
  • A systolic murmur may indicate a problem with a heart valve.
  • The systolic function of the left ventricle was assessed via echocardiography.

Advanced Usage

• "Systolic dysfunction": Refers to impaired contraction of the heart muscle, reducing its ability to pump blood effectively.
  • The patient was diagnosed with heart failure due to systolic dysfunction.
• "Systolic ejection period": The specific time interval during systole when blood is ejected from the ventricles.
  • The systolic ejection period can be measured using specialized equipment.

Variants and Related Words

• Systole (n): The phase of the heartbeat when the heart contracts.
  • Ventricular systole pumps blood to the lungs and the body.
• Diastolic (adj): The antonym, relating to the diastole, the phase when the heart muscle relaxes and fills with blood.
  • The diastolic pressure is the lower number in a blood pressure reading.

Synonyms

• Contractile (in a cardiac context): Pertaining to contraction.
  • The contractile phase of the heart is systole.

Related Phrases

• Systolic blood pressure: The pressure in the arteries when the heart beats (contracts).
  • Maintaining a healthy systolic blood pressure is crucial for cardiovascular health.
• Systolic heart failure: A type of heart failure characterized by the heart's inability to contract forcefully enough during systole.
  • His symptoms were consistent with systolic heart failure.

Adjective

1. of or relating to a systole or happening during a systole