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Definition of: systole
(sīs′tə·lē) noun
1. Physiol. The regular contraction of the heart, especially of the ventricles, that impels the blood outward. Compare DIASTOLE.
2. The shortening of a syllable that is naturally or by position long. [<NL <Gk systolē a contraction <systellein. See SYSTALTIC.]
—sys·tol·ic (sis·tol′ik) adjective
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