diastole
daɪˈæstəli
noun
Origin
Ancient Greek
διαστολή — dilation, expansion
Overview
Meaning Now
- The phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle relaxes and allows the chambers to fill with blood.
Literal older meaning
a setting apart or dilation
Language path
Ancient Greek → Latin → English
Earliest form
diastole
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The term reflects the classical Greek understanding of the pulse and cardiac movement as an active process of expansion (diastole) and contraction (systole), a concept refined by Galen in his anatomical studies.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
διαστολή
“a drawing asunder, separation, dilation”
- Latin
diastole
“dilation of the heart or arteries”
Adopted into medical Latin from Greek
- Late Middle English
diastole
“the relaxation phase of the heart”
Connections
Word parts
dia-
prefix
through, apart
stello
root
to place, send, or set
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Related to diastole
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.