What distinguishes systolic blood pressure from diastolic pressure?

Systolic blood pressure is indeed defined as the pressure in the arteries during the contraction of the heart's ventricles, known as systole. This is when the heart pumps blood out into the arteries, creating the highest pressure that the arteries experience during the cardiac cycle. Diastolic blood pressure, on the other hand, represents the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest between beats, known as diastole. During this phase, the heart chambers fill with blood, and the pressure in the arteries decreases.

This distinction is vital for understanding cardiovascular health and how the heart functions. Monitoring both the systolic and diastolic pressures aids in diagnosing conditions such as hypertension and assessing overall heart health. The other options do not accurately describe the physiological processes associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressures, thus reinforcing the correctness of the first choice.