What does systolic pressure represent in a blood pressure reading?

Systolic pressure represents the pressure in the arteries when the heart's ventricles contract and pump blood into the circulation. This contraction is a crucial phase of the cardiac cycle known as systole. During this phase, the force exerted by the blood against the walls of the arteries is at its highest, which is why this value is recorded as the top number in a blood pressure reading.

In a blood pressure reading, the first number (systolic pressure) indicates the peak pressure during heart contraction, while the second number (diastolic pressure) reflects the pressure in the arteries when the ventricles are at rest between beats. Therefore, the correct answer emphasizes the importance of systolic pressure in assessing cardiovascular health by indicating the maximum pressure exerted when the heart is actively pumping blood.