Introduction to Health Care: Taking Blood Pressure

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering blood pressure concepts, equipment parts, Korotkoff sound phases, diagnostic classifications, procedural steps, and factors causing measurement error.

Blood Pressure

The force exerted by circulating blood against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood throughout the body, measured in millimeters of mercury ($\text{mmHg}$).

Systolic Pressure

The arterial pressure measured when the heart contracts and pumps blood; recorded as the top number in a blood pressure reading.

Diastolic Pressure

The arterial pressure measured when the heart relaxes between beats; recorded as the bottom number in a blood pressure reading.

Aneroid Sphygmomanometer

A blood pressure apparatus that uses a mechanical gauge instead of mercury; it is lightweight and portable but requires regular calibration to maintain accuracy.

Digital Blood Pressure Monitor

An automated device that measures blood pressure using electronic sensors; convenient to use but potentially less accurate in patients with irregular heart rhythms or movement during measurement.

Blood Pressure Cuff

A band wrapped around the upper arm and inflated to temporarily occlude blood flow through the brachial artery, generating the pressure required for measurement.

Inflatable Bladder

The inner expandable component of the blood pressure cuff that inflates with air to compress the brachial artery and halt blood flow temporarily.

Manometer (Gauge)

The component of an aneroid apparatus that displays cuff pressure in millimeters of mercury ($\text{mmHg}$), enabling reading of systolic and diastolic values.

Inflation Bulb

The rubber bulb squeezed by hand to pump air into the bladder and increase pressure around the brachial artery.

Air Release Valve

The screw valve attached to the inflation bulb that regulates cuff deflation; controlled opening allows accurate detection of Korotkoff sounds.

Rubber Tubing

Flexible conduits that connect the cuff, inflation bulb, and manometer, allowing air passage through the system during inflation and deflation.

Eartips (Stethoscope)

Components of the stethoscope that fit snugly into the practitioner's ears and direct acoustic sound toward the ear canal.

Ear Tubes (Stethoscope)

The rigid metallic segments of the stethoscope that transmit sound from the flexible tubing to the eartips.

Flexible Tubing (Stethoscope)

The conduit that carries sound vibrations from the chest piece to the ear tubes while attenuating extraneous ambient noise.

Chest Piece (Stethoscope)

The dual-head acoustic unit placed over an artery to auscultate blood flow, consisting of a diaphragm and a bell.

Diaphragm (Stethoscope)

The wide, flat side of the chest piece designed for hearing high-pitched sounds, including Korotkoff sounds during blood pressure assessment.

Bell (Stethoscope)

The cup-shaped side of the chest piece designed for hearing low-pitched heart sounds and vascular sounds.

Korotkoff Sounds

Vascular sounds auscultated through a stethoscope while deflating the cuff, generated by blood resuming flow through the compressed brachial artery.

Phase I Korotkoff Sound

The initial appearance of faint, clear tapping sounds during cuff deflation, which corresponds to the systolic blood pressure reading.

Phase II Korotkoff Sound

A soft swishing or murmur-like sound heard during cuff deflation, indicating that blood flow is beginning to re-establish.

Phase III Korotkoff Sound

Crisper, loud tapping sounds heard during cuff deflation, indicating increased arterial blood flow.

Phase IV Korotkoff Sound

A distinct, abrupt muffling sound heard during cuff deflation, indicating the transition toward diastolic pressure.

Phase V Korotkoff Sound

The point where sounds completely disappear during cuff deflation, representing the diastolic blood pressure reading.

Normal Blood Pressure (Adults)

A blood pressure classification defined as less than $120/80\,\text{mmHg}$.

Elevated Blood Pressure

A blood pressure classification defined by a systolic pressure of $120\text{--}129\,\text{mmHg}$ and a diastolic pressure of less than $80\,\text{mmHg}$.

Hypertension Stage 1

A blood pressure classification characterized by a systolic pressure of $130\text{--}139\,\text{mmHg}$ or a diastolic pressure of $80\text{--}89\,\text{mmHg}$.

Hypertension Stage 2

A blood pressure classification characterized by a systolic pressure of $140\,\text{mmHg}$ or higher, or a diastolic pressure of $90\,\text{mmHg}$ or higher.

Hypertensive Crisis

A medical emergency characterized by a blood pressure reading of $180/120\,\text{mmHg}$ or higher.

Hypotension

A blood pressure classification defined as a reading of less than $90/60\,\text{mmHg}$.

Blood Pressure Cuff Sizing Error

Applying a cuff that is too small yields a falsely high reading, whereas applying a cuff that is too large yields a falsely low reading.

Antecubital Fossa Cuff Positioning

The standard placement technique requiring the cuff to be wrapped snugly $2\text{--}3\,\text{cm}$ ($1\,\text{inch}$) above the antecubital fossa with its arterial marker aligned over the brachial artery.

Pre-measurement Patient Preparation

A clinical protocol requiring the patient to rest for at least $5\,\text{minutes}$, avoid caffeine, smoking, and exercise for at least $30\,\text{minutes}$, and empty their bladder.

Full Bladder Effect on Blood Pressure

A physiological distention that can falsely elevate a patient's systolic blood pressure by as much as $10\text{--}15\,\text{mmHg}$.

Arm Position Error

Holding the arm below heart level results in a falsely high reading, whereas positioning the arm above heart level results in a falsely low reading.