Vital Sign. Blood Pressure.

Question 1

What is hydrostatic pressure ?

Answer 1

This is the force a liquid exerts against the wall of a container such as veins and arteries

Question 2

What is blood pressure?

Answer 2

This is the force exerted by the blood on the walls of blood vessels.

Question 3

What is Systolic pressure?

Answer 3

Maximum pressure vessels during contractions of the ventricles

Question 4

What is diastolic pressure?

Answer 4

This is the pressure exerted on when the ventricles are at rest.

Question 5

Which is the top number of a blood pressure reading?

Which is the bottom number of a blood pressure reading?

Answer 5

Systolic is the top number
————————————
Diastolic is the bottom number

Question 6

What is the calculation for blood pressure?

Answer 6

BP = Cardiac output x Peripheral resistance

Question 7

What is cardiac output?

Answer 7

This is the volume of blood pumped out by the left ventricle into the aorta per minute

Question 8

What is Peripheral resistance?

Answer 8

This is the measure of blood that flows through the vessels.

Peripheral resistance is affected by vasoconstriction and vasodilation

Question 9

What 4 things control blood pressure?

Answer 9

The sympathetic nervous system
Baroreceptors
Chemoreceptors
Kidneys

Question 10

How does the sympathetic nervous system control blood pressure?

Answer 10

High BP causes the SNS too be stimulated and vasoconstriction occurs
Low BP causes the SNS to be stimulated and vasodilation occurs

Question 11

How do baroreceptors help control blood pressure?

Answer 11

These are located in the aortic arch, internal artery and large vessels in the neck and thorax
They are stimulated by stretch
Is BP rises artery walls are stretched and the baroreceptors send impulses to the vasomotor of the brain (medulla oblongata )
This then causes vasodilation and reduces the heart rate.

Question 12

How do the chemoreceptors help control blood pressure?

Answer 12

These are found in the aortic arch and in the carotid artery
They respond to low levels of oxygen
Serve hypoxia (oxygen deprivation)produces sympathetic stimulation to increase heart rate and BP

Question 13

How does the kidney help control blood pressure?

Answer 13

Low BP causes a release of renin, and enzyme which:

• Acts on angiotensin 1 and converts it to angiotensin 2 which is a vasoconstrictor
• this triggers the release of aldosterone from the adrenal cortex causing sodium retention and therefore fluid retention

Question 14

What are the normal ranges of blood pressure?

Answer 14

Normal range:

100/60mmHg to 140/ 90mmHg

Question 15

How does WHO define hypertension?

High blood pressure

Answer 15

When the systolic is equal too or above 140mmHg

And when the diastolic blood pressure is equal to or above 90mmHg

Question 16

What things do you need to measure blood pressure?

Answer 16

Sphygmomanometer (the cuff) and a stethoscope

Or you can use an automated device such as a dynomap.

Question 17

How do you take a blood pressure?

Answer 17

• permission to do so
• put cuff around bare arm
• inflate it until you are over the systolic BP ( You should hear nothing if this done correctly)
• slowly release the air from the cuff
• when you hear a clear tapping noise that is the systolic reading
• clear tapping sound will turn into a swooshing sound then a tapping sound then a muffling sound
• when all the sound disappears completely that is the diastolic reading

Question 18

What are korotkoff sounds?

Answer 18

The tapping sounds heard through the stethoscope as the cuff is gradually deflated.

Question 19

Factors that affect a BP reading

Answer 19

• Cuff position - level with heart. above causes lower readings. Below causes higher readings
• Cardiac rhythm-highest in the afternoon and evening. Lowest after 12am and before 4 am.
• Accuracy of equipment
• External influence -e.g smoking and anxiety
• Cuff size- cuff to small gives a higher reading
• Observer - level of concentration and accuracy of vision and hearing
• Technique- doing this to quick leads to inaccuracies
• Position of woman- lying gives a lower reading. The reading is higher when sitting or standing

Question 20

What hormone causes blood pressure to fall in the second trimester?

Answer 20

Progesterone