systole

[ sis-tuh-lee, -lee ]

noun

1. Physiology. the normal rhythmical contraction of the heart, during which the blood in the chambers is forced onward. Compare diastole.
2. Classical Prosody. the shortening of a syllable regularly long.

systole

/ sɪˈstɒlɪk; ˈsɪstəlɪ /

noun

1. contraction of the heart, during which blood is pumped into the aorta and the arteries that lead to the lungs Compare diastole

systole

/ sĭs′tə-lē /

1. The period during the normal beating of the heart in which the chambers of the heart, especially the ventricles, contract to force blood into the aorta and pulmonary artery.
2. Compare diastole

Derived Forms

• systolic, adjective

Other Words From

• pre·systo·le noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of systole¹

1570–80; < Greek systolḗ a drawing up, contraction, equivalent to sy- sy- + stolḗ pressure, originally, garment, equipment, equivalent to stol- (noun derivative of stéllein to send, place) + -ē feminine noun suffix; diastole, systaltic

Word History and Origins

Origin of systole¹

C16: via Late Latin from Greek sustolē, from sustellein to contract; see systaltic

Example Sentences

During systole, the volunteers perceived time duration to be shorter than it actually was.

From Scientific American

He has a feeling for the systole and diastole, the contraction and release, of a body’s mechanisms.

From New York Times

Hence this organ, when weakened by structural change and insufficiently stimulated through diminished innervation, may not fully empty itself during the systole, and consequently it becomes dilated.

From Project Gutenberg

He fails to create an ideal world in which both tragedy and comedy are necessary to the spiritual order, as are the systole and diastole of the heart to an organised being.

From Project Gutenberg

The acrophases you see late at night are for things like “duration of systole” and “duration of diastole” which means that the Heart Rate is slow during the night.

From Scientific American