Systolic blood flow refers to the phase when the heart muscle contracts and

Systolic blood flow refers to the phase when the heart muscle contracts and

• A. Relaxes and fills with blood
• B. Stops beating
• C. Pumps blood out of the heart
• D. Becomes completely still

Answer: (C)

Systole is the phase of the cardiac cycle where the heart muscle contracts. When the ventricles squeeze, pressure builds and blood is ejected into the arteries—left ventricle into the aorta and right ventricle into the pulmonary artery. This pumping action is what moves blood out of the heart, which is why the correct statement is that systolic blood flow occurs as the heart pumps blood out. The other options describe the heart’s relaxation and filling phase or a cessation of movement, which happen during diastole or do not occur during normal heart function.

Systole is the phase of the cardiac cycle where the heart muscle contracts. When the ventricles squeeze, pressure builds and blood is ejected into the arteries—left ventricle into the aorta and right ventricle into the pulmonary artery. This pumping action is what moves blood out of the heart, which is why the correct statement is that systolic blood flow occurs as the heart pumps blood out. The other options describe the heart’s relaxation and filling phase or a cessation of movement, which happen during diastole or do not occur during normal heart function.