Question

The nurse is calculating a patient's mean arterial pressure (MAP). What is the patient's MAP, if the blood pressure is 110/70 mm Hg?

a) 91
b) 83
c) 65
d) 73

Answer 1

To calculate the mean arterial pressure (MAP) when the blood pressure is 110/70 mm Hg, first determine the Pulse Pressure by subtracting the diastolic pressure from the systolic. Then, add one-third of the Pulse Pressure to the diastolic pressure. The resulting MAP of 83.33 mm Hg is within the normal range.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student has asked how to calculate mean arterial pressure (MAP) given a blood pressure reading of 110/70 mm Hg. To find the MAP, you can use the formula:

MAP = Diastolic BP + (Pulse Pressure / 3)

First, calculate the Pulse Pressure, which is the difference between the systolic (110 mm Hg) and diastolic (70 mm Hg) pressures:

Pulse Pressure = Systolic BP – Diastolic BP = 110 mm Hg – 70 mm Hg = 40 mm Hg

Next, divide the Pulse Pressure by 3 and add it to the diastolic pressure:

MAP = 70 mm Hg + (40 mm Hg / 3) ≈ 70 mm Hg + 13.33 mm Hg ≈ 83.33 mm Hg

This MAP falls within the normal range of 70-110 mm Hg, indicating adequate blood circulation and oxygen supply to the tissues, avoiding conditions such as ischemia and hypoxia.