Diastolic blood pressure is the minimum arterial BP occurring during ventricular relaxation.

• A. Maximum arterial BP during contraction
• B. Minimum arterial BP during relaxation
• C. Pulse pressure
• D. The BP during exercise only

Answer: (B)

Diastolic blood pressure is the arterial pressure during ventricular relaxation, the minimum pressure in the arteries between heartbeats. In the cardiac cycle, the heart contracts to produce the higher systolic pressure, then relaxes and fills, causing the pressure to drop to its lowest level—diastolic pressure. Pulse pressure is the difference between systolic and diastolic pressures, not the diastolic value itself. The idea of maximum arterial pressure during contraction describes systolic pressure, not diastolic. And diastolic pressure isn’t limited to exercise; it’s the resting minimum pressure that occurs during relaxation regardless of activity. So the statement that diastolic blood pressure is the minimum arterial BP occurring during ventricular relaxation is the accurate definition.