National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) Dental Hygienist Practice Test

Which blood pressure reading component is associated with the relaxation phase of the cardiac cycle?

1. Systolic pressure

2. Diastolic pressure

3. Pulse pressure

4. Mean arterial pressure

The correct answer is: Diastolic pressure

Diastolic pressure is associated with the relaxation phase of the cardiac cycle, which occurs when the heart muscle is at rest between beats. During this phase, the heart fills with blood, and the pressure in the arteries decreases. Diastolic pressure specifically measures the force of the blood against the artery walls when the heart is in this relaxed state. Understanding the significance of diastolic pressure is crucial. It reflects the minimum pressure in the arteries and is essential for assessing overall cardiovascular health. Monitoring diastolic pressure helps healthcare professionals evaluate the risk of conditions such as hypertension and heart disease, as chronic elevation can indicate problems with vascular health or heart function. In contrast, systolic pressure represents the force exerted when the heart contracts and pumps blood into the arteries. Pulse pressure is the difference between systolic and diastolic pressures, providing insight into cardiovascular health, and mean arterial pressure is an average pressure in a person's arteries during one cardiac cycle. However, none of these measures specifically corresponds to the relaxation phase, making diastolic pressure the correct choice.