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Pulse pressure

Description

The up and down fluctuation of the arterial pressure results from the pulsatile nature of the cardiac output, i.e. the heartbeat. The pulse pressure is determined by the interaction of the stroke volume of the heart, compliance (ability to expand) of the aorta, and the resistance to flow in the arterial tree. By expanding under pressure, the aorta absorbs some of the force of the blood surge from the heart during a heartbeat. In this way, the pulse pressure is reduced from what it would be if the aorta wasn’t compliant. During each heartbeat, blood pressure varies between a maximum (systolic) and a minimum (diastolic) pressure.

Related formulas

Variables

PpulsePulse pressure (mmHg)
PsysSystolic pressure (mmHg)
PdiasDiastolic pressure (mmHg)