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a blood pressure might read 120/70 mm Hg. What is the higher number called and what does it signify that the heart is doing?

User Chatax
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Final answer:

Systemic arterial blood pressure is measured as the ratio of the systolic pressure over the diastolic pressure. The systolic pressure is the higher value and represents blood pressure during ventricular contraction, while the diastolic pressure is the lower value and represents blood pressure during ventricular relaxation.

Step-by-step explanation:

When systemic arterial blood pressure is measured, it is recorded as a ratio of two numbers, expressed as systolic pressure over diastolic pressure. The systolic pressure is the higher value and reflects the arterial pressure resulting from the ejection of blood during ventricular contraction or systole. The diastolic pressure is the lower value and represents the arterial pressure of blood during ventricular relaxation or diastole.

User Pouyan
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