Measurement of the maximum blood pressure in the arteries The larger number is the systolic pressure caused by each pump of the heart
{s} pertaining to systole, of a regular contraction of the heart; pertaining to the maximum arterial pressure caused by contraction of the left ventricle of the heart
The top of the two blood pressure numbers, which measure the maximum blood pressure reached as blood is pumped out of the heart chambers
The pressure of the blood in the arteries when the heart pumps It is the higher of two blood pressure measurements, e g , 120/80, where 120 is the systolic pressure