Patient Care Technician (PCT) AAH Practice Exam

In terms of blood pressure, what does the term ‘systolic’ refer to?

1. The highest pressure in arteries

2. The lowest pressure in arteries

3. The pressure during heart relaxation

4. The average pressure in arteries

The correct answer is: The highest pressure in arteries

The term 'systolic' refers to the highest pressure in the arteries that occurs when the heart contracts and pumps blood into the circulatory system. This pressure is measured at the peak of the cardiac cycle, reflecting the maximum force exerted by the blood against the artery walls during heartbeats. Understanding systolic pressure is crucial as it helps assess cardiovascular health and can indicate conditions such as hypertension. The concept of systolic pressure is contrasted with the other terms in the question. The lowest pressure in the arteries corresponds to diastolic pressure, which is the measurement taken when the heart is at rest between beats. The pressure during heart relaxation, which is also related to diastolic pressure, occurs after blood is pumped out of the heart. Average arterial pressure refers to means like mean arterial pressure (MAP), indicating an overall assessment of blood flow over a complete cycle, rather than the peak pressure that systolic specifically measures.