Blood Pressure Lab

Lab: Measuring Blood Pressure

To complete this lab, you will need a sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff) and a stethoscope.  This will be available for those cadets in the classroom.  

For the online cadets:

• If you have access to a a sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff) and a stethoscope, please use it.  However for those that do not have access to these, the lab will have alternate activities to do throughout the lab.  

Blood Pressure:

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).   A typical blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg, or "120 over 80." The first number represents the pressure when the heart contracts and is called the systolic blood pressure. The second number represents the pressure when the heart relaxes and is called the diastolic blood pressure.

Measuring Pulse:

You should know that your "pulse" refers both to the physical thump created in your arteries by the contraction of your heart muscles and the number of these thumps your heart causes per minute. You have seven pulse points--places where arteries come close to your skin--on your body:

1. carotid arteries (located on your neck)  
2. radial arteries (on your wrists)
3. brachial arteries (on your arms)
4. aortic arch (by your heart)
5. abdominal aorta (near your stomach)
6. femoral arteries (on your thighs)
7. popliteal arteries (near your knees)