What term describes the pressure remaining in the arteries when the left ventricle relaxes and refills?

• A. Systolic pressure
• B. Diastolic pressure
• C. Pulse pressure
• D. Mean arterial pressure

Answer: (B)

During diastole, the left ventricle relaxes and fills, and the arterial walls rebound to maintain pressure between beats. This baseline arterial pressure is known as diastolic pressure, reflecting the resistance the heart must overcome to keep blood flowing during the resting phase. Systolic pressure, by contrast, is the peak pressure produced when the ventricle contracts. Pulse pressure is simply the difference between systolic and diastolic pressures, and mean arterial pressure is a weighted average of the cycle’s pressures, giving an overall sense of perfusion. So the pressure remaining in the arteries when the heart is relaxed and refilling is diastolic pressure.