Final answer:
Systolic pressure is the highest number recorded in a blood pressure measurement, corresponding to the arterial pressure during heart contraction.
Step-by-step explanation:
When measuring blood pressure, the systolic pressure refers to the highest number recorded. This value indicates the arterial pressure when the heart is actively pumping blood during ventricular contraction, also known as systole. A common example of a normal systolic reading is 120 mm Hg, as in the blood pressure reading 120/80 mm Hg, where 120 represents the systolic pressure and 80 represents the diastolic pressure, being the lower number that occurs during ventricular relaxation.
The systolic pressure is known as the highest number when measuring blood pressure. It reflects the arterial pressure resulting from the ejection of blood during ventricular contraction or systole. The diastolic pressure, on the other hand, is the lower number representing the arterial pressure during ventricular relaxation or diastole.