Which value represents the pressure on the arteries when the heart is relaxed?

Diastolic pressure is the value that represents the pressure on the arteries when the heart is relaxed. This phase of the cardiac cycle occurs between heartbeats, allowing the heart to fill with blood while the chambers are at rest. During this time, the pressure in the arteries declines but remains relatively significant as the blood vessels maintain ongoing circulation.

Blood pressure readings consist of two values: systolic pressure, which is measured when the heart is contracting and pumping blood, and diastolic pressure, which is the measure of pressure during the heart's relaxation phase. Understanding diastolic pressure is essential for assessing cardiovascular health, as it provides insight into how well blood is flowing and how efficiently the circulatory system functions during rest periods.

The other choices, such as systolic pressure, pulse pressure, and blood volume, relate to different aspects of cardiovascular function. Systolic pressure measures the higher pressure during heart contraction, pulse pressure represents the difference between systolic and diastolic pressures, and blood volume refers to the total amount of blood within the circulatory system. Each of these values plays a role in overall cardiovascular health, but only diastolic pressure specifically indicates the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest.