Questions and Answers
What is blood pressure?
The force exerted by the blood against the arterial walls when the heart contracts or relaxes
What does systolic pressure refer to?
Pressure occurs in the walls of the arteries when the left ventricle of the heart is contracting and pushing blood into the arteries
What is diastolic pressure?
The constant pressure in the walls of the arteries when the left ventricle of the heart is at rest
The average reading for systolic pressure and rate is called __________.
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Study Notes
Blood Pressure Overview
- Blood pressure is the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels.
- It varies with heart activity: increasing during contraction (systolic) and decreasing when at rest (diastolic).
Systolic Pressure
- Refers to the pressure in arteries during heart contraction.
- Occurs when the left ventricle pushes blood into the arteries.
- Higher readings indicate the heart's workload and can reflect cardiovascular health.
Diastolic Pressure
- Represents the pressure in arteries when the heart is at rest between beats.
- Maintains a baseline pressure necessary for blood flow to tissues.
- Important for assessing cardiovascular health alongside systolic pressure.
Average Blood Pressure Readings
- Represents the overall pressure exerted by blood on arterial walls.
- Essential for determining cardiovascular health and risk of hypertension.
- Typically expressed in millimeters of mercury (mmHg), often noted as systolic over diastolic (e.g., 120/80 mmHg).
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Description
Test your knowledge of key terms related to blood pressure with these flashcards. Each card provides a definition to help you understand the concepts of systolic and diastolic pressures. Perfect for students of health sciences or anyone interested in cardiovascular health.
