systole
[sis´to-le] the contraction, or period of contraction, of the heart, especially of the ventricles, during which blood is forced into the aorta and pulmonary artery. adj., adj systol´ic.
atrial systole contraction of the atria by which blood is forced into the ventricles; it precedes the true or ventricular systole and is indicated by the fourth heart sound.
ventricular systole contraction of the ventricles, forcing blood into the aorta and pulmonary artery.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.