Diastole is the phase of the cardiac cycle in which the heart relaxes and expands, specifically the period of time when the heart chambers (atria and ventricles) are filling with blood. During diastole, the pressure in the ventricles decreases, allowing blood to flow in from the atria. This relaxation is crucial for the efficient filling of the heart and maintaining adequate blood flow throughout the body. It's the opposite of systole, the contraction phase. Impaired diastole can lead to heart failure.
Diastoles meaning with examples
- The doctor listened carefully to the patient's heart, noting the duration and quality of both systole and diastole to assess overall heart health. An extended diastole allows for complete ventricular filling, contributing to higher stroke volume.
- A healthy young athlete's heart typically exhibits a longer diastole compared to that of a sedentary individual, allowing for increased cardiac output during periods of exertion and activity and greater oxygen supply.
- Certain medications can affect the length of diastole, influencing how the heart functions. Understanding how specific drugs work to influence the function of the heart is very important in treatment.
- In conditions like diastolic heart failure, the heart muscle may become stiff, impairing the ability of the ventricles to relax and fill effectively during diastole. This ultimately reduces cardiac output.