What is systolic pressure?

Systolic pressure refers to the blood pressure in the arteries when the heart muscle contracts and pumps blood into the circulation. This phase of the heartbeat is known as systole. During a blood pressure reading, systolic pressure is represented as the first sound that is heard through a stethoscope when blood starts to flow back into the artery after being temporarily stopped by a cuff. This first sound indicates the highest level of pressure in the arteries and is a critical measurement for evaluating cardiovascular health.

The definition and significance of systolic pressure highlight its role in determining the overall pressure dynamics of blood flow. Understanding how it is measured, and its relationship to heart function is essential for those in the nursing and healthcare fields.