blood pressure
Definition
Blood pressure is the force that circulating blood exerts against the walls of blood vessels. It is a critical parameter in ensuring that blood can flow through arteries and veins to deliver oxygen and nutrients to various parts of the body.
Analogy
Imagine blood pressure as traffic flow on a highway; just as the amount of cars and their speed determine how smoothly traffic moves, the volume of blood and the strength of heart contractions influence how efficiently blood circulates through your body's "roadways" (blood vessels). Too much traffic (high blood pressure) or too little (low blood pressure) can lead to problems.
Related terms
Systolic Pressure: The peak pressure in the arteries, which occurs near the beginning of the cardiac cycle when the ventricles are contracting.
Diastolic Pressure: The minimum pressure in the arteries, which occurs near the end of the cardiac cycle when the ventricles are filled with blood.
Hypertension: A condition characterized by consistently high arterial blood pressure, which can significantly risk cardiovascular health
Are you a college student?
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.