Exercise No.

2 Cardiovascular System
Part III: Blood Pressure Determination

What is Blood Pressure (BP)? 3. Cuff- designed to hold the

bladder around limb. This part
-Defined as the pressure exerted by the blood is quite essential for accurate
against any unit area of the blood vessel walls, measurement and must be
and is generally measured in the arteries.
designed to prevent bulging and ensure proper
References: Tortora, J. & Derrickson, B. (2014 ). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology. (14th ed). USA: John Wiley and Sons, Inc. pp. 740-750
-BP is highest
Image in theMedical
source: Farlex aorta and large(2007).
Dictionary systemic placement or positioning.
http://img.tfd.com/mk/S/X2604-S-37.png
4. Manometer- portion of the sphygmomanometer
arteries; In a resting, young adult, BP rises to
that measures the air pressure in mmHg.
about 110 mmHg during systole (ventricular
5. Valve- present with the sphygmomanometer to
contraction) and drops to about 70 mmHg during
allow for controlled deflation for measurement.
diastole (ventricular relaxation).
Steps in Blood Pressure Reading:
Farlex Medical Dictionary, 2007
-Made up of two numbers: 1.) systolic blood 1. Obtain a stethoscope, alcohol swabs, and
pressure; 2.) diastolic blood pressure. a sphygmomanometer.
2. Subject should sit in a comfortable
2 Blood Pressure Readings.
position with one arm resting on the table.
1. Systolic Blood Pressure- pressure in the arteries
Wrap the cuff around the subjects arm,
at the peak of ventricular ejection
-Corresponds with the onset of turbulent flow just above the elbow, with the inflatable
through the arteries area on the medial arm surface and
-Pressure at first Korotkoff sound secure the cuff.
-Average value : around 120 mmHg 3. Palpate the brachial pulse, and lightly
2. Diastolic Blood Pressure-pressure in the arteries mark its position with felt pen. Don the
during ventricular relaxation stethoscope, and place the diaphragm
-Corresponds with the onset of laminar flow over the pulse point.
through the arteries 4. Inflate the cuff to approximately 160
-Pressure at last Korotkoff sound mmHg pressure and slowly release the
-Average value: around 80 mmHg pressure valve. Watch the valve as you
Blood Flow Conditions that occur during BP listen carefully for the first soft thudding
reading: sounds. This is the systolic pressure.
(1) No Flow (2) Turbulent Flow (3) Laminar 5. Continue to release the cuff pressure. An
Flow increase, then a muffling of Korotkoff
sounds (various sounds heard while
2 Methods of Blood Pressure Determination:
a) Indirect (noninvasive) method taking blood pressure) will be noticed.
(manual cuff and sphygmomanometer or with an Note the diastolic pressure, pressure at
automated oscillometric device) which sound becomes muffled or
b) Direct ( invasive ) disappears.
-Instrument used to measure blood pressure: 6. Compute for pulse pressure (difference
sphygmomanometer and stethoscope between systolic and diastolic BP, and
-Measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) indicates the amount of blood forced from
the heart during systole ; actual working
Parts of a Sphygmomanometer: pressure).
7. Compute for mean arterial pressure(MAP)
1. Bulb- pumps air into the cuff
for each trial using the equation:
2. Bladder- An inflatable bag that occludes the artery
MAP= (2 x diastolic pressure) + systolic pressure
when compressed. The bladder should be flexible 3
and elastic, must be leak tested.

Prepared by: Mas, Mylyn L.

Phar 112-Lab PH5