What is systolic pressure?

Systolic pressure refers to the peak blood pressure in the arteries that occurs when the heart contracts and pumps blood into the circulation. This phase of the cardiac cycle is when the ventricles are actively expelling blood, leading to a significant rise in arterial pressure. The measurement is typically recorded during a blood pressure assessment alongside diastolic pressure, which represents the lowest level of blood pressure when the heart is at rest between beats.

The other options provide different aspects of blood pressure dynamics. The lowest blood pressure in the cycle is indicative of diastolic pressure, whereas the average blood pressure represents a composite view of pressure throughout the entire cardiac cycle and does not correspond specifically to systolic pressure. Lastly, the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest pertains again to diastolic pressure, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between these two critical measurements in understanding cardiovascular health.