Anatomy & Physiology › Section R · Blood vessels and circulation › Topic R.2
Blood flow, pressure, and resistance
Blood moves only because pressure pushes it from where pressure is high to where it is low, against the resistance of the vessels. Three linked quantities, flow, pressure and resistance, explain a blood pressure reading, why narrowed arteries matter so much, and how blood gets back to the heart.
In this topic
- Flow, pressure and resistance
- Systolic, diastolic and pulse pressure
- Mean arterial pressure
- Worked example: pulse pressure and MAP
- Measuring blood pressure
- Blood pressure categories
- What sets resistance: Poiseuille's law
- Worked example: a narrowed arteriole
- Compliance and arteriosclerosis
- Getting blood back: low-pressure return
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
This topic is part of Wuanberri Pro. Checking your access…