Thursday, February 26, 2009

Blood Pressure


Blood pressure is the pressure blood exerts against the inner walls of vessels. Ventricles contract and arteries expand, causing continuous movement to areas of lower pressure. The pressure changes from high to low pressure. Blood flow is dependent upon elasticity and the recoil of arteries.


Blood pressure is measured usually with a sphygmomanometer, which observes the contract, relax, rise, and fall of blood pressure. The two arterial measurements are systolic and diastolic pressure, measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). With the auscultatory method, pressure in the brachial artery is measured.


No comments:

Post a Comment