What is the pressure exerted against arterial walls while the left ventricle is at rest?

• A. Systole
• B. Diastole
• C. Blood Pressure
• D. Pulse Pressure

Answer: (B)

During diastole, the heart relaxes and the ventricles fill with blood. While the heart is at rest, the arterial walls are held at a continuous pressure by the elastic recoil of the arteries, which is measured as diastolic blood pressure. This value represents the pressure in the arteries when the ventricles are not contracting. It’s not the higher pressure that occurs during contraction (systole), nor is it the general term for the combined pressures, nor the difference between systolic and diastolic values (pulse pressure). For example, if the blood pressure is 120/80, the diastolic pressure is 80 mmHg. Therefore, the pressure exerted against arterial walls when the left ventricle is at rest is diastolic pressure.