Calculation
Formally it is the systolic pressure minus the diastolic pressure.
Theoretically, the systemic pulse pressure can be conceptualized as being proportional to stroke volume, or the amount of blood ejected from the left ventricle during systole and inversely proportional to the compliance of the aorta.
The aorta has the highest compliance in the arterial system due in part to a relatively greater proportion of elastin fibers versus smooth muscle and collagen. This serves the important function of dampening the pulsatile output of the left ventricle, thereby reducing the pulse pressure. If the aorta becomes rigid in conditions such as arteriosclerosis or atherosclerosis, the pulse pressure would be very high.
- Systemic pulse pressure = Psystolic - Pdiastolic = 120mmHg - 80mmHg = 40mmHg
- Pulmonary pulse pressure = Psystolic - Pdiastolic = 25mmHg - 10mmHg = 15mmHg
Read more about this topic: Pulse Pressure
Famous quotes containing the word calculation:
““To my thinking” boomed the Professor, begging the question as usual, “the greatest triumph of the human mind was the calculation of Neptune from the observed vagaries of the orbit of Uranus.”
“And yours,” said the P.B.”
—Samuel Beckett (1906–1989)
“Common sense is the measure of the possible; it is composed of experience and prevision; it is calculation appled to life.”
—Henri-Frédéric Amiel (1821–1881)