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For a blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg, what is the approximate mean arterial pressure?
AAbout 100.00 mm Hg
BAbout 86.67 mm Hg
CAbout 106.67 mm Hg
DAbout 93.33 mm Hg
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. About 93.33 mm Hg
1. Mean arterial pressure is approximated as diastolic pressure plus one third of the pulse pressure.
2. Pulse pressure is 120 minus 80, which is 40 mm Hg.
3. One third of 40 mm Hg is 13.33 mm Hg.
4. Adding that to the diastolic 80 mm Hg gives 93.33 mm Hg.
5. A value of 100 mm Hg would come from halving rather than thirding the pulse pressure.
_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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