Medical Term:
systole
Pronunciation: sis′tō-lē
Definition: Contraction of the heart, especially of the ventricles, by which the blood is driven through the aorta and pulmonary artery to traverse the systemic and pulmonary circulations, respectively; its occurrence is indicated physically by the first sound of the heart heard on auscultation, by the palpable apex beat, and by the arterial pulse.
[G. systolē, a contracting]
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