Blood pressure

(i) “Blood pressure is the force or pressure which the blood exerts on the walls of the blood vessels” (Waugh, 2002) Arterial blood pressure is the consequence of expulsion of blood from the left ventricle in to the aorta. Systolic blood pressure is the pressure created inside the arterial system when the left ventricle contracts forcing blood into the aorta. The normal value in a “normal” male is ~120mmHg (in females the value is around 8-10mmHg less). Diastolic blood pressure is the pressure in the arteries when the heart i...