Diastolic:This term pertains to the phase when the heart relaxes and expands. The noun form is "diastole," with the final "e" pronounced like the "e" in "lee." Diastolic pressure refers to the lowest arterial pressure during the heart's relaxation and expansion phase, as the ventricles fill with blood. In a blood pressure measurement, the diastolic pressure is generally the second number recorded. For instance, in a reading of 120/80 ("120 over 80"), the diastolic pressure is 80, indicating 80 millimeters of mercury (mmHg). A diastolic murmur is a sound heard during diastole, the heart's relaxation period. The word "diastolic" is derived from the Greek "diastole," meaning "a drawing apart," and has been used since the 16th century to describe the heart's relaxation phase.
