When measuring blood pressure, which of the following represents systolic pressure?

Systolic pressure is the measurement of the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats and pumps blood. It represents the maximum pressure exerted against the arterial walls during this contraction phase of the heartbeat. In a blood pressure reading, which is expressed as two numbers (for example, 120/80 mmHg), the first number indicates the systolic pressure and is always the higher of the two numbers.

The lower number in a blood pressure reading indicates diastolic pressure, which is the pressure in the arteries when the heart is resting between beats. Therefore, stating that the higher number represents systolic pressure accurately reflects the physiological occurrence during which this measurement is taken.