Cardiovascular System: Blood Pressure and Flow

Blood Pressure

The pressure exerts against the blood vessel

How is the blood pressure measured?

It’s measured in the arteries because the heart pumps blood into the arteries

Systolic Pressure

Highest blood pressure when the ventricles are contracting

Diastolic Pressure

Lowest pressure when the ventricles relax

Blood Pressure: Pulse

The alternating blood pressure of systolic and diastolic pressure creates a pulse

Blood Pressure: Measure

It’s measured as systolic/diastolic in mmHg

Hypotension

Less than 95/ Less than 50

Normal

Below 120/ Below 180

Prehypertension

120-139/80-89

Stage 1 Hypertension

140-159/90-99

Stage 2 Hypertension

More than or equal to 160/ More than or equal to 100

Blood Flow: Pressure

• High blood flow in the arteries because of the high blood pressure arteries are under

• Lowest blood flow in the capillaries to allow time time for change between cells and blood

• Increasing blood flow in the veins because increase force of blood flowing despite minimal blood pressure

Blood Flow: Forces

• Skeletal muscles contractions and relaxing of the cardiac cycle

• Muscles involved in breathing

• One way valves that opens and closes to allow flow of blood while preventing the backward flow of flood