Blood Pressure

Measuring Blood Pressure

This is done via a sphygmomanometer (pronunciation: sfig-mo-mano-meter)

Blood Pressure

• Measured in blood vessels(arteries)
• Determined by the cardiac output and resistance to flow of blood vessels
• Narrower vessels (vasoconstriction)
• Wider vessels (vasodilation)

The pressure in the cuff is increased until the blood flow stops, and then the flow gradually returns as the cuff is slowly dilated. This enables you to measure the blood pressure when the arterty is closed by the pressure from the cuff, and when the artery is fully open.

Recording Blood Pressure

Systolic Blood Pressure- maximum blood pressure, occurs when…