Which measurement corresponds to the pressure of blood against artery walls when the heart is at rest?

The measurement that corresponds to the pressure of blood against artery walls when the heart is at rest is known as diastolic pressure. This value reflects the pressure in the arteries during the relaxation phase of the heart cycle, specifically when the ventricles are filling with blood and the heart is not actively pumping.

When taking a blood pressure measurement, two key values are recorded: systolic and diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure measures the force of blood in the arteries when the heart beats and pumps blood out. In contrast, diastolic pressure shows the minimum pressure exerted by the blood against the artery walls during the heart's resting phase between beats.

Normal pressure and average pressure are not standard terms used in hemodynamics or cardiology and do not accurately describe the specific states of blood pressure concerning the heart's activity cycle. Therefore, the correct understanding of diastolic pressure is essential for monitoring cardiovascular health, as it provides insight into the heart's performance during rest as well as the overall vascular resistance in the body.