Blood Pressure

Question 1

Blood pressure

Answer 1

Lateral pressure exerted by flowing blood on the walls of the arteries

Question 2

How is blood pressure determined?

Answer 2

Force with which heart pumps the blood, resistance offered by the vessels ( BP=Cardiac output xPeripheral Resistance)

Question 3

What is short term control of blood pressure mediated by?

Answer 3

Nervous system - sympathetic and parasympathetic, chemicals - sensitive to changes in pH, O2, and CO2 levels

Question 4

Why does the nervous system mediate short term blood pressure?

Answer 4

Changes blood distribution in the body and by changing blood vessel diameter. Sympathetic and parasympathetic activity will affect veins, arteries and heart to control HR and force contraction

Question 5

The Vasomotor center

Answer 5

Cluster of sympathetic neurons found in the medulla, sends efferent motor fibres that innervate moth muscles of blood vessels

Question 6

Sympathetic activity

Answer 6

Vasoconstriction (fight or flight)

Question 7

Parasympathetic activity

Answer 7

Vasodilation (rest and digest)

Question 8

Sympathetic stimulation

Answer 8

Impulses sent from accelerator center and medulla travel along sympathetic fibres.
Primary neurotransmitters; Neurotransmitters that increase the force of ventricular contraction, heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiac output. Norepinephrine, epinephrine

Question 9

Chronotropic

Answer 9

Affects heart rate

Question 10

Dromotropic

Answer 10

Enhances conduction velocity

Question 11

Inotropic

Answer 11

Enhances strength of contraction

Question 12

Parasympathetic stimulation

Answer 12

Primary neurotransmitter; acetylcholine. Main effect; slowing heart rate. Decreases the strength of contraction and can cause a small decrease in the force of ventricular contraction

Question 13

What are baroreceptors and where are they found?

Answer 13

Stretch receptors found in carotid sinuses and aortic arch

Question 14

Baroreceptors

Answer 14

Detect stretch changes in blood pressure, cause a reflex response in either the sympathetic or parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system

Question 15

What happens to the Baroreceptor reflex if systolic blood pressure decreases?

Answer 15

Peripheral vasoconstriction, increased heart rate (chronotropic effect), increased myocardial contractility (inotropic effect), increased electrical conduction (dromotropic effect)

Question 16

What happens to Baroreceptor reflex if the systolic pressure increases?

Answer 16

Peripheral vasodilation, decreased heart rate (chronotropic effect), decreased myocardial contractility (inotropic effect), decreased electrical conduction (dromotropic effect)

Question 17

Arterial blood pressure

Answer 17

Does not stay the same all the time, it changes to meet your bodies needs.

Question 18

What is atrial blood pressure affected by?

Answer 18

Body position, breathing, emotional state, exercise and sleep

Question 19

Atrial blood pressure type and normal range

Answer 19

Systolic: 110-130 mmHg
Diastole: 60-80mmHg
Pulse pressure: 40mmHg

Question 20

White coat effect

Answer 20

Considerable rise of BP as a mere consequence of being around medical personnel
15% or more of hypertensive patients can be suspected of lower BP at home

Question 21

Orthostatic hypotension

Answer 21

Form of low BP the happens when standing or sitting up quickly after laying down
May experience a pre-syncopal or syncopal episode, occurs when baroreceptors don’t react to the low BP, gravity, medications, dehydration, cardiac/neuro/endocrine problems

Question 22

Normal pulse pressure

Answer 22

40mmHg - 60mmHg. Having normal pulse pressure means the heart is pumping blood as it should and the arteries are adapting well by expanding and contracting

Question 23

Equation for pulse pressure

Answer 23

(Systolic blood pressure) - (Diastole blood pressure) = pulse pressure

Question 24

What is Wide pulse pressure (high) caused by?

Answer 24

Arterial stiffness, valve insufficiency, severe iron deficiency anemia or hyperthyroidism. This may increase your risk for heart disease.

Question 25

When is high pulse pressure especially dangerous?

Answer 25

When combined with a high systolic blood pressure

Question 26

What does having a narrow pulse pressure (low) mean?

Answer 26

A sign that the heart is not pumping as much blood and it should be

Question 27

What causes narrow pulse pressure (low)?

Answer 27

Does not cause any symptoms itself, will be replaced to the specific cause. CHF, aortic stenosis, significant blood loss.

Question 28

How to quickly calculate HR?

Answer 28

The number of beats in 6 seconds and then multiply by 10. But if HR is bradycardic or irregular count for the full 30 seconds and multiply by 2

Question 29

Auscultatory blood pressure method

Answer 29

Inflate the cuff quickly approx. 180mmHg. Ensure stethoscope is over brachial artery, open valve of the cuff slightly allowing pressure to fall 2mmHg/sec. As the pressure falls, the sound of blood pulsing is the systolic pressure. When the sound disappears as the air continues to be let out, it is the diastolic pressure.

Question 30

Palpatory blood pressure method

Answer 30

Inflate the cuff 10mmHg/sec until the pulse is no longer felt, the cuff is inflated further until the pressure is 30mmHg higher. Open the valve slowly allowing pressure to drop by 2mmHg/sec. When you’re able to feel the radial pulse again, the pressure indicated on the gauge will be your systolic pressure. Typically systolic pressure will be 10mmHg lower than auscultation BP.

Question 31

Auscultatory Gap

Answer 31

A gap present after initial Korotkoff sound. Responsible for errors made in recording falsely low systolic BP especially in hypertensive patients. Avoided by pumping the cuff 30mmHg beyond palpable blood pressure.

Question 32

Korotkoff sound

Answer 32

Sounds that medical personnel listen for when they are taking blood pressure. It is the snapping sound first heard in systolic pressure.