Question

The units of blood pressure are most typically ______.

mmHg
inches of H2O
dL of blood

Answer 1

The units of blood pressure are most typically millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Blood pressure is measured using a sphygmomanometer, which consists of a cuff that is inflated around the arm and a pressure gauge that measures the pressure in millimeters of mercury.

Step-by-step explanation:

The units of blood pressure are most typically millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Blood pressure is measured using a sphygmomanometer, which consists of a cuff that is inflated around the arm and a pressure gauge that measures the pressure in millimeters of mercury. For example, a typical blood pressure reading for a young adult is 120/80 mm Hg, where the first number represents the systolic pressure and the second number represents the diastolic pressure.

Answer 2

Blood pressure is typically measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), which is ideal for clinical measurements due to the density of mercury.

Step-by-step explanation:

The units of blood pressure are most typically measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Blood pressure measurements, such as the common 120/80 mm Hg reading for systolic and diastolic pressures, are taken using devices that measure the height of mercury in a column due to the pressure exerted by the blood. It is described as systolic pressure when the heart beats and pumps blood, and as diastolic pressure during the rest period between heartbeats.

The pressure of blood within the cardiovascular system, such as in the arteries of the systemic circulation, is expressed in these units because the density of mercury makes it particularly suitable for registering these pressures in a readable format. Hence, when measuring arterial blood pressure clinically, mm Hg is the standard unit used.