Question

What is blood pressure? How is it measured? Differentiate between systolic and diastolic pressure.

Answer 1

The force that blood exerts against the wall of the vessel in which it flows is called blood pressure. This pressure is much greater in arteries than in veins. Blood pressure is measured with an instrument called sphygmomanometer. The pressure of blood inside the artery during ventricular systole (contraction) is called systolic pressure and pressure in the artery during ventricular diastole (relaxation) is called diastolic pressure. The normal systolic pressure is about 120 mm of Hg and diastolic pressure is 80 mm of Hg.