alleryStart learning →A patient reads 120/80 mm Hg. What is the pulse pressure?
A20 mm Hg
B40 mm Hg
C80 mm Hg
D100 mm Hg
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. 40 mm Hg
1. Pulse pressure is the difference between systolic and diastolic pressure.
2. Here systolic is 120 mm Hg and diastolic is 80 mm Hg.
3. Subtracting gives 120 minus 80, which is 40 mm Hg.
4. The values 80 and 120 are the two component pressures themselves, not their difference.
_Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology (CC BY 4.0), Ch 20 "The Cardiovascular System: Blood Vessels and Circulation", section 20.2 Blood Flow, Blood Pressure, and Resistance_
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