What is the term for the arterial pressure during heart contraction?

• A. Systolic pressure
• B. Diastolic pressure
• C. Mean arterial pressure
• D. Pulse pressure

Answer: (B)

The arterial pressure during heart contraction is systolic pressure. This peak pressure occurs when the ventricles contract (systole) and push blood into the aorta, momentarily raising arterial pressure to its highest level in the cycle. Diastolic pressure, by contrast, is the pressure during heart relaxation when the ventricles fill. Pulse pressure is the difference between systolic and diastolic pressures, and mean arterial pressure is a weighted average of pressures throughout the cycle (often approximated as diastolic plus one-third of the pulse pressure). For a reading like 120/80, 120 represents the systolic pressure.