Meanings (ES + gloss)
diástole
The phase or process of relaxation and dilation of the heart chambers, between contractions, during which they fill with blood; an instance of the process.
In patients with rapid rates, diastole may be sufficiently shortened that the third and fourth heart sounds become superimposed and form a summation gallop.
Of the total cardiac cycle at this rate, diastole accounts for 0.50 s, or 62% of the cycle, and systole accounts for 0.31 s, or 38%.
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