Blood pressure measurement

Principle

Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by the walls of the blood vessels on the blood. It is measured indirectly. By way of a cuff that is placed around the upper arm and that consists of an external nonstretching layer and an internal stretching layer, measurable pressure is produced by pumping air between the two layers of the cuff. This pressure compresses the upper arm and, thereby, the artery of the upper arm (arteria brachialis or brachial artery). When the pressure just about exceeds the values of the internal pressure of the artery, i.e. the blood pressure, the artery is completely occluded and the flow of blood is interrupted. The blood pressure is determined indirectly by measuring the pressure that is required for completely occluding the brachial artery.

Benefits

• Use the same measurement instrument which is also used by general practitioners in medical routinge examination

Tasks

1. Determination of the systolic and diastolic blood pressure
2. Determination of the blood pressure under physical stress

What you  can learn about

• Blood pressure measurement
• Systolic blood pressure
• Diastolic blood pressure 
• Blood pressure cuff