Systolic blood pressure is defined as?

Systolic blood pressure is defined as the highest pressure in the blood vessels, which occurs when the heart contracts and pumps blood into the arteries. This phase of the cardiac cycle is known as systole. During this contraction, the force exerted by the blood against the walls of the arteries reaches its peak, resulting in the measurement known as systolic pressure.

Understanding systolic pressure is vital for assessing cardiovascular health, as it reflects how well the heart is functioning in terms of pumping blood effectively. High systolic pressure can indicate potential risks for heart disease or stroke, while low systolic pressure may signal inadequate blood flow to organs.

The other options relate to different aspects of the cardiac cycle: the lowest pressure occurs during diastole (when the heart is at rest), the average pressure is more indicative of mean arterial pressure, and the resting state of the heart does not apply to systolic measurements, highlighting the significance of the contraction phase.