What is the term for the period of contraction of the heart?

The term for the period of contraction of the heart is known as systole. During this phase, the heart muscle contracts and pumps blood out of the chambers into the arteries. Specifically, systole occurs when the ventricles contract, forcing blood into the aorta and pulmonary artery, which carries oxygen-rich blood to the body and deoxygenated blood to the lungs, respectively.

In contrast, diastole refers to the relaxation phase of the heart, during which the chambers fill with blood. Bradycardia denotes a slower than normal heart rate, typically defined as a resting heart rate of fewer than 60 beats per minute. The cardiac cycle encompasses one complete heartbeat and includes both systole and diastole, but the specific phase of contraction is clearly identified as systole. Understanding these terms is crucial for comprehending how the heart functions effectively to circulate blood throughout the body.