Measuring Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is
indicates your heart
health
It is determined by the
contractions of the heart
Your pressure varies
depending on the
condition of your heart
and blood vessels
Pressure is measured in
millimeters of mercury
(mm Hg)

What is Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is the

force that blood
exerts against blood
vessel walls.
The pumping action
of the heart generates
the flow
Pressure occurs
when the flow is met
by resistance from
blood vessel walls

Laminar Flow

Blood flows faster in

the center of a blood
vessel, because the
blood near the sides
are hitting the walls of
the vessels.
Is caused by the
friction (resistance)
between the blood
and the vessel walls.

Blood Pressure Graph

Pulse Pressure

Systolic

Dicrotic
Notch

Diastolic

Average
Pressure

By taking your pulse, you can feel that blood

pressure fluctuation with each heartbeat.
The pulse which you feel is actually a pressure
wave that travels from your heart though your
arteries

Systolic Pressure

Systolic pressure is the maximum pressure

exerted by the blood against the artery walls.
It results when the ventricles contract.
Normally, it measures 120 mm Hg.
Systolic

Dicrotic Notch

The Dicrotic Notch represents the interruption of

blood flow due to the brief backflow of blood that
closes the aortic semilunar valve when the
ventricles relax.
Dicrotic
Notch

Diastolic Pressure

Diastolic Pressure is the lowest pressure in the

artery.
It result when the ventricles are relaxed and is
usually around 80 mm Hg.
Diastolic

Blood Pressure Sounds

A cuff is inflated to constrict an artery so
that no blood flows.
As the cuff pressure is slowly released, but
the artery is still partially constricted, blood
flow begins again.
Sounds can be heard because the blood
flows violently causing audible sounds.
When the artery is fully open, the blood
flows freely and the sounds disappear.

Checking Blood Pressure

The first sounds that are heard indicate
systolic pressure (top number).
When the sounds stop, diastolic pressure
has been reached (bottom number).
Average blood pressure is:
120
80