Final answer:
Pulse pressure is the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure, such as a 40 mm Hg difference from a reading of 120/80 mm Hg.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure is known as pulse pressure. To illustrate, if an individual has a systolic pressure of 120 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure of 80 mm Hg, the pulse pressure would be 40 mm Hg.
Systolic blood pressure is the higher number recorded during the contraction phase of the heart cycle, known as systole, while diastolic blood pressure is the lower number recorded during the relaxation phase, or diastole.