Definition

The phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscles contract to pump blood out of the heart.

Example

During systole, the heart pumps blood into the arteries.

Conversation

I was reading about how the heart works, and they mentioned systole a lot.

Oh really? I think systole is when the heart contracts, right?

Yeah, exactly! It’s interesting how it pumps blood during that phase.

For sure! It's amazing how our bodies function so seamlessly.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Systole → It is derived from the Greek word "systolē" (συστολή), which means contraction or drawing together. The term is used in a medical context to refer to the phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle contracts and pumps blood.

Memory Tip

Think of the Greek word for contraction ('systolē') to remember that 'systole' refers to the heart's contraction phase.

Visually Confused Words