Knowra Mean arterial pressure Mean arterial pressure Mean arterial pressure is the average pressure in the arteries during one cardiac cycle. Because the heart spends more time in diastole than systole, it is weighted toward diastolic pressure.
Cardiac cycle : The sequence of contraction and relaxation through which the heart fills and pumps blood. Its longer diastolic phase explains why mean pressure lies closer to diastolic than systolic pressure.
Mean arterial pressure equation : An approximation that calculates mean arterial pressure from diastolic pressure and pulse pressure. The common bedside estimate is diastolic pressure plus one-third of pulse pressure at a normal heart rate.
Central venous pressure : The pressure in the thoracic vena cava near the right atrium, reflecting right-sided filling conditions. It describes venous-side pressure, not the average pressure driving systemic arterial flow.
Cerebral perfusion pressure : The pressure gradient driving blood flow through the brain, commonly estimated as mean arterial pressure minus intracranial pressure. It shows why a given mean pressure may support different brain perfusion depending on intracranial pressure.
Cardiac output : The volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute. Together with systemic vascular resistance, it determines mean arterial pressure.
Arterial blood pressure measurement : Methods for measuring pressure in the arteries, including cuff-based and invasive techniques. Mean pressure is calculated from cuff readings or measured directly through an arterial catheter.
Intracranial pressure : The pressure within the skull, exerted by brain tissue, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid. Cerebral perfusion pressure depends on mean arterial pressure relative to intracranial pressure.
Coronary perfusion pressure : The pressure gradient that drives blood flow through the coronary arteries, especially during diastole. Diastolic pressure, a major contributor to mean pressure, strongly influences coronary blood supply.
Systemic vascular resistance : The resistance to blood flow through the systemic circulation, arising mainly in small arteries and arterioles. Changes in this resistance can raise or lower mean arterial pressure without changing cardiac output.
Arterial line : A catheter placed in an artery to provide continuous blood-pressure monitoring and blood sampling. Its pressure waveform yields a direct mean-pressure measurement.
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