What do we call the temporary expansion of an artery caused by the force of a heartbeat?

The temporary expansion of an artery caused by the force of a heartbeat is known as a pulse. When the heart contracts during systole, it pumps blood into the arteries, creating a wave of pressure that travels through the blood vessels. This pressure causes the arterial wall to stretch temporarily, which is what we perceive as a pulse. A pulse can be felt in various points throughout the body where arteries are close to the skin, such as the wrist or neck, and it serves as an important indicator of heart rate and overall cardiovascular health.

In contrast, a pressure wave refers to the movement of this wave of pressure through the arteries, but it does not specifically indicate the expansion felt as a pulse. Heart rate denotes the number of times the heart beats within a minute, which relates to the pulse but is a different measurement. Systole specifically refers to the phase of the heart cycle when the heart muscle contracts and pumps blood, but it does not encompass the perception of that contraction in terms of a pulse.