In the auscultation method for blood pressure measurement, what is systolic pressure
indicated by? - Ans -The first detection of the sounds.
In the auscultation method for blood pressure measurement, what is diastolic pressure
indicated by? - Ans -The disappearance of the sounds.
What is the basis for the sounds referred to as Korotkoff sounds? - Ans -Turbulent
blood flow
What is a finger pulse transducer, together with a sphygmomanometer, capable of
determining? - Ans -Only systolic pressure. Systolic pressure is indicated by the first
detection of a finger pulse, whereas diastolic pressure can only be determined using the
auscultation method.
What would you expect the measured systolic blood pressure to be with the arm raised
above the head? - Ans -Lower than that measured with the arm in its normal position.
What would you expect if a sphygmomanometer cuff designed to be used on a small child's
arm was used on an adult's arm? - Ans -Measured systolic and diastolic pressures
would both be higher than the true pressures.
The terms systole and diastole usually refer to the _______ and _______, respectively, of the
_______. - Ans -contraction; relaxation; ventricles
How is pressure generated? - Ans --Contraction (systole) of the heart's ventricles
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, What do we usually refer to when speaking of blood pressure? - Ans -Systemic
Arterial blood pressure, though all vessels have pressure
How does blood flow? - Ans -From higher to lower pressure, so the contracting
vessels generate a slightly higher pressure than the arteries
-pressure falls progressively as it passes through the body
Highest BP/Lowest BP - Ans --Left ventricle/right atrium
When is arterial pressure at its highest? - Ans --immediately after the ventricle
contracts (systolic)
When is arterial pressure at its lowest? - Ans --as the ventricle relaxes (diastolic),
immediate to the next contraction
Pulse Pressure - Ans -The difference between systolic and diastolic pressure in the
arteries
-gets smaller as vessel size decreases (so in the smallest vessels, there is only one blood
pressure)
Invasive but accurate method of measuring BP? - Ans --Inserting a catheter attached
to a pressure gauge in an artery
Units of BP - Ans --Pressure can be measured as the height of liquid it can push up
against gravity
-blood and water have similar densities, so we can measure blood pressure in units such
as cm of water, inches of water, or feet of water
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-Mercury is 13.5 times heavier than water (or blood) for the same volume
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