Which pressure occurs when the heart rests between beats?

• A. Systolic Blood Pressure
• B. Mean Arterial Pressure
• C. Diastolic Blood Pressure
• D. Pulse Pressure

Answer: (C)

During the heart’s relaxation phase, arterial pressure drops to its lowest point in the cycle. This is diastolic pressure, the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats and is filling with blood. Systolic pressure is the peak pressure during heart contraction, while pulse pressure is the difference between systolic and diastolic pressures, and mean arterial pressure is an average level across the whole cardiac cycle. So the pressure you’re asking about—the pressure as the heart rests between beats—is diastolic pressure.