Diastolic pressure is?

• A. Pressure in the arteries during cardiac relaxation
• B. Maximum pressure during contraction
• C. Pulse pressure difference
• D. Blood flow velocity

Answer: (A)

Diastolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries during cardiac relaxation. When the heart's ventricles are relaxing and filling between beats, the arterial pressure falls to its lowest value, which is the diastolic pressure. This measurement reflects how much resistance the arteries provide and how compliant they are. It’s different from systolic pressure, which is the peak pressure during ventricular contraction. The pulse pressure is simply the difference between systolic and diastolic pressures, not the diastolic value itself. Blood flow velocity describes how fast blood moves, not the pressure reading.