What does diastolic pressure measure in the cardiovascular system?

Diastolic pressure specifically measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest between beats. During this phase, the heart chambers, particularly the ventricles, are filling with blood, and the pressure in the arteries reflects the resistance to blood flow during this relaxation phase. This is crucial for understanding cardiovascular health, as sustained high diastolic pressure can indicate increased workload on the heart and potential cardiovascular issues.

In contrast, the other options describe different aspects of cardiovascular function. One refers to the pressure during heart contraction (systolic pressure), which occurs when the heart pumps blood out into the arteries, and provides insights into how hard the heart is working to circulate blood. Another option relates to overall blood flow, which encompasses various dynamics of the circulatory system, not just pressure. Finally, the last option mentions the volume of blood pumped in one beat, which is referred to as stroke volume, and describes the quantity of blood ejected from the heart with each contraction rather than pressure measurements. Understanding diastolic pressure is essential for assessing heart health and function accurately.