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Stack #4194727
blood pressure
Term | Definition |
---|---|
blood pressure | the pressure of the blood pushing on the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood around the body |
created by: | the pumping action of the heart |
maintained through: | elastic recoil of arteries. contraction of skeletal muscles. inspiration movements |
systole - higher pressure | when ventricles are contracting, pressure within the heart rises and aortic valves are forced open and blood forcibly is ejected into the aorta. walls of aorta are stretched to accommodate much of the blood expelled. |
diastole - lower pressure | when ventricles are relaxing pressure within the heart falls and the aortic valves are pushed shut. the walls of the aorta recoil to initial position and propel blood onwards while heart itself is resting |