S-BIOL225LA General Physiology Laboratory

Activity 9

Blood Pressure

In physiological terms, the term blood pressure actually refers to the interaction of several
different pressures (the pressure only within the arteries, or arterial pressure; the pressure only
within the veins, or venous pressure; the pressure within the pulmonary system, or pulmonary
pressure; and the pressure within all of the other vascular beds, termed systemic pressure).
Clinically, however, the term blood pressure only refers to the pressure within the large arteries.

Arterial pressure can be measures either directly, by insertion of a needle or catheter directly
into the artery in such a way that the needle is pointing “upstream” or against the flow of blood
within the vessel, or indirectly, by an instrument called a sphygmomanometer. Regardless of which
method is utilized, blood pressure is recorded in millimeter of mercury (mmHg) and is normally
taken in the brachial artery.

A commonly used sphygmomanometer consists of an inflatable rubber cuff attached by a

rubber tube to a compressible hand pump or bulb. Another tube attaches to a cuff and to a mercury
column marked off in millimeters or an aneroid gauge that measures the pressure in millimeters of
mercury (mm Hg). The highest pressure in the artery, occurring during the ventricular systole, is
termed systolic blood pressure. The lowest pressure, occurring during ventricular diastole, is
termed diastolic blood pressure. Blood pressures are usually expressed as a ration of systolic to
diastolic. The average blood pressure of a young adult is about 120 mm Hg systolic and 80 mm Hg
diastolic, abbreviated to 120/80. The difference between systolic and diastolic pressure is called
pulse pressure. Pulse pressure may be used clinically to indicate several physiological and
pathological parameters and usually averages 40 mmHg in a healthy individual. The ratio of systolic
pressure to diastolic pressure to pulse pressure may also be utilized clinically as a diagnostic tool,
and is usually 3:2:1.

This laboratory exercise employs the indirect auscultatory method, in which the sounds of
blood flow are heard with a stethoscope. Blood flow in an artery is impeded by increasing pressure
within a sphygmomanometer. When the cuff of the sphygmomanometer applies sufficient pressure
to completely occlude blood flow, no sounds can be heard distal to the cuff because no blood can
flow through the artery. When the cuff pressure drops below the maximal (systolic) pressure in the
artery, blood is heard passing through the vessel. When cuff pressure drops below the lowest
(diastolic) pressure in the vessel, the sound becomes muffled and usually disappears. The sounds
heard through the stethoscope via this procedure is termed Korotkoff sounds.

Indirect blood pressure can be taken in any artery that can be occluded easily. The brachial
artery has the advantage of being at approximately the same level as the heart, so brachial pressure
closely reflects aortic pressure.

Objectives:

1. To perform auscultatory method for measuring systemic and diastolic pressures.

2. To measure the blood pressure at different body positions and activity.
3. To explain the rapid control and long term control of arterial pressure.
4. Discuss some factors that affects the blood pressure.

Materials:

Subjects Mask
70% alcohol Gloves

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 S-BIOL225LA General Physiology Laboratory

Procedure:

1. Your human subject should be seated comfortably seated, at ease, with arm slightly flexed,
abducted and relaxed. You may rest the forearm on a table in the supinated position.

2. Wrap the deflated cuff of the sphygmomanometer around the arm with the lower edge about
2.54 cm (1 inch) above the antecubital space. Close the valve on the neck of the rubber bulb.

3. Clean the earpieces of the stethoscope with alcohol before using it. Using the diaphragm of the
stethoscope, find the pulse in the brachial artery just above the bend of the elbow, on the inner
margin of the biceps brachii muscle.

4. Inflate the cuff by squeezing the bulb until the air pressure within it just exceeds 170 mm Hg.
At this point the wall of the brachial artery is compressed tightly, and no blood should be able
to flow through.

5. Place the diaphragm of the stethoscope firmly over the brachial artery and while watching the
pressure gauge, slowly turn the valve, releasing air from the cuff. Listen carefully for Korotkoff
sounds as you watch the pressure fall. The first loud, rapping sound you hear will be the systolic
pressure.

6. Continue listening as the pressure falls. The pressure recorded on the mercury column when the
sounds become faint or disappear is the diastolic pressure reading. It measures the force of
blood in arteries during ventricular relaxation and specifically reflects the peripheral resistance
of the arteries.

7. Repeat this procedure for both readings two or three times to see if you get consistent results.
Allow a few minutes between readings. Record results in the worksheet.

8. Have your subject stand and record the blood pressure for each arm. Record results in the
worksheet.

9. Assuming that your subject has no known or apparent cardiac or other health problems, and is
capable of such an activity, have your subject do some exercise, such as running in place for 3
minutes (or 50 steps), and measure the blood pressure again immediately after the completion
of the exercise. Measure the blood pressure after resting for 10-15 minutes. Record the pulse
pressure in the table of the worksheet.

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Group no________ Date performed ______________

Program code ______ Date Submitted ______________
Group members: Professor____________________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________

Activity 9

Blood Pressure

1. Complete data on table 1.

Table 1. Blood pressure and Pulse pressure

Systolic pressure Diastolic pressure Pulse Pressure
Position (mm Hg) (mm Hg) (mm Hg)
Left arm Right arm Left arm Right arm Left arm Right arm
Sitting

Standing

After
running
After
resting

2. Interpret the results in table 1.

____________________________________________________________________________
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3. Describe the changes in systolic and diastolic pressures with age and the causes of these
changes.

____________________________________________________________________________
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____________________________________________________________________________

4. Which body system is responsible for the rapid control and the long term control of the arterial
pressure?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

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5. Explain how these two major factors that affect pulse pressure:

5.1. Stroke volume output of the heart

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5.2. Compliance (total distensibility) of the arterial tree

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6. How will the following affect blood pressure? Explain its mechanism briefly.

6.1. Exercise

____________________________________________________________________________
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6.2. Intake of salts (NaCl)

____________________________________________________________________________
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6.3. Intake of diuretics by a hypertensive person.

____________________________________________________________________________
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7. What are the causes of the lethal effects of hypertension?

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
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