End-systolic volume is defined as the amount of blood in each ventricle at the end of ventricular systole.

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End-systolic volume is the amount of blood remaining in each ventricle after the heart has finished contracting (after systole). During systole, the ventricles eject blood into the aorta and pulmonary trunk, so the intraventricular volume drops from the end-diastolic value to a smaller residual amount. The correct description matches this idea by specifying the volume at the end of ventricular systole. For context, the amount pumped per beat is stroke volume (EDV minus ESV), and the end-diastolic volume is the amount in the ventricles at the end of filling (end of diastole). Typical values illustrate the concept: EDV around 120 mL, ESV around 50 mL, leaving about 70 mL as stroke volume. ESV can increase with reduced contractility or higher afterload and decrease with stronger contractility or lower afterload.