What does diastolic pressure measure in the arteries?

Diastolic pressure specifically measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest between beats. It occurs during the diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle when the heart muscle relaxes, allowing the ventricles to fill with blood. This phase is crucial because it reflects the lowest pressure in the arteries and indicates how well the arteries can handle blood flow without the force generated by a heartbeat.

Understanding diastolic pressure is essential as it helps in assessing cardiovascular health and contributes to clinical decisions regarding hypertension and other heart-related conditions. The option that suggests pressure during the heart's contraction relates to systolic pressure rather than diastolic. The choice referring to pressure immediately after the pulse does not accurately describe the resting state of the vessel pressure. Lastly, measuring overall blood volume in the arteries is not a function of diastolic pressure; rather, it is related to various factors affecting blood volume, not specifically pressure readings.