Which of the following factors contributes the least to the higher systolic pressure compared to diastolic pressure?
The volume of blood in the heart during systole
Contraction of arteries during systole
The resistance offered by blood vessels during systole
The forceful entry of blood into arteries during systole
While the forceful entry of blood into arteries does occur during systole, it has a relatively lesser impact on the overall pressure difference between systole and diastole. The forceful entry of blood is primarily a consequence of ventricular contraction, which is driven by the factors mentioned in options 1, 2, and 3. Therefore, option 4 contributes the least to the higher systolic pressure compared to diastolic pressure.