What is the contraction phase of the heartbeat called?

The contraction phase of the heartbeat is known as systole. During systole, the heart muscles contract, leading to the pumping of blood from the heart into the arteries. This phase occurs after diastole, which is the relaxation phase when the heart fills with blood. Understanding systole is crucial because it represents the active phase of the cardiac cycle responsible for generating blood flow throughout the body.

In contrast, diastole refers to the phase when the heart muscle relaxes and the chambers of the heart fill with blood. Arrhythmia pertains to irregular heartbeats, which affect the heart's rhythm rather than its contraction efficiency. Electrophysiology focuses on the electrical aspects of the heart but does not specifically refer to the contraction phase. Thus, identifying systole as the contraction phase allows for a clearer understanding of how the heart functions in the broader context of the cardiac cycle.