Diastole – When the heart muscle relaxes; when blood pressure is at its lowest

(pronounced dai-ass-tuh-lee)

I went on a diet and asked the ice cream man to leave (diastole). My blood pressure lowered as a result. Finally, I could relax.

Diastolic phase

This is when the heart fills with blood. During this time the ventricles relax, genenerating a suction force which causes blood to flow into the two ventricles. When the ventricles relax the pulmonary and aortic valves (semilunar valves) shut. At this time, both the tricuspid and bicuspid valves (atrioventricular valves) are open, directing blood from the atria into the ventricles.