Finesentence logo

Systole: meaning, definitions and examples

❤️
Add to dictionary

systole

 

[ ˈsɪstəʊli ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

medical term

Systole refers to the phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle contracts and pumps blood from the chambers into the arteries. This process is crucial for maintaining blood circulation throughout the body. The term is primarily used in cardiology to describe the contraction of either the atria or ventricles of the heart. Systole is contrasted with diastole, which is the relaxation phase when the heart chambers fill with blood. Understanding systole is essential for assessing heart function and diagnosing cardiac conditions.

Synonyms

contraction, heartbeat phase

Examples of usage

  • During systole, the ventricles contract.
  • Systole and diastole measurements are used to assess blood pressure.
  • An increase in systolic pressure can indicate hypertension.

Translations

Translations of the word "systole" in other languages:

🇵🇹 sístole

🇮🇳 सिस्टोल

🇩🇪 Systole

🇮🇩 sistol

🇺🇦 систола

🇵🇱 skurcz

🇯🇵 心室収縮

🇫🇷 systole

🇪🇸 sístole

🇹🇷 sistol

🇰🇷 수축기

🇸🇦 انقباض القلب

🇨🇿 systola

🇸🇰 systola

🇨🇳 收缩期

🇸🇮 sistola

🇮🇸 systóla

🇰🇿 систола

🇬🇪 სისტოლა

🇦🇿 sistol

🇲🇽 sístole

Etymology

The word 'systole' originates from the Greek 'systolē', which means 'a drawing together' or 'contraction'. The Greek root comes from the verb 'systellein', meaning 'to draw together or contract'. The term began to be used in the context of physiology and medicine in the 17th century, as understanding of the heart's function advanced. Medical terminology often borrows from Greek and Latin roots, reflecting the early influence of these languages in scientific literature. The opposition to systole, known as diastole, denotes the heart's relaxation phase and is derived from the Greek 'diastolē', meaning 'a drawing apart'. Together, these terms form the basis of how we understand cardiac cycles in medical practice.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #23,229, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.