b.p. higher in heart or arteries?

[chicago88]

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is the blood pressure higher in the heart or the arteries?


i'm confused by various sources...

i have a source claiming it is the heart that has highest b.p. in the body, and that the right atrium has the lowest as a 'receptive area' -- is it that the right atrium has basically no pressure but cumulatively the heart has the highest?

 

[shenanigans327]

someone please correct me if I'm off...but I think the highest blood pressure in the body comes during the left vent. contraction within the Arch of the Aorta-->Great Arteries. Unfortunately, I see no literature to back me up so it's just a thought. Hope this helps

 

[chicago88]

hmm, is that so? i think it was an aamc test that was saying b.p. is higher in heart, actually...

 

[rem6775]

The systolic blood pressure is the same in the left ventricle during contraction and in the aorta (since the aortic valve is open and they are continuous). Diastolic pressures are drastically different after the aortic valve closes (LV diastolic = 3-12 mmHg; aortic diastolic = 60-90 mmHg [the same as the systemic diastolic pressure]).

 

[Kittee]

The highest blood pressure in the entire body is in the heart at one specific moment and locale: the left ventricle right before the Aortic Valve opens. Once the valve opens, the pressure decreases (PV relationship, V has instantaneously increased). In addition, the force of the blood is lost (remember, P = F/A) by a number of hemodynamic and mechanical factors (i.e., friction, viscosity, etc.).

However, this difference in pressure isn't significant enough to warrant a clinical (or MCAT) difference, so for most intents and purposes, Aorta has the same pressure.

But yeah, The farther you get away from the generation of force (i.e., pressure), the less pressure there will be (why your blood doesn't "pump" without a heart).

My 2 cents.

 

[gatewasani]

highest when waiting for mcat score

 

[DavidMD2B]

is the blood pressure higher in the heart or the arteries?
i

In order for the heart to be able to pump blood to the rest of the body, the pressure in the heart pushing the blood out has to be higher than the pressure in the arteries. If the pressure is higher in the arteries than the heart has to work harder to get the blood to the rest of the body. Hence, the increased risk of CV issues in patients with high blood pressure.

Just my 3 cents.🙂

 

[kentavr]

In order to answer this question you have to realize that heart has 4 chambers with its own pressures. This pressure also depends on time. Let's first consider the left ventricle: At the moment of contraction (t1) it has to raise the maximum pressure in order to make a push through the entire body. When aortic valve opens (t2), the blood rushed to the aorta since the aorta pressure is less then ventricle has. Then Aortic valve closes (t3) and left ventricle relaxes. Aorta at this time has a maximum pressure. But backflow is stopped by valve if it is working correctly. The left ventricle at this time has to have small pressure (diastole) since it has to be filled again with blood. Otherwise the blood will no go through.
During diastole the right atrium and ventricle have to have the smallest pressure that even Vena Cava blood can get into it. When tricuspid valve closes (t4) the right ventricle raised its pressure in order to push the blood through the lungs to the left atrium. But the pressure in the right ventricle contraction is significantly less then in the left ventricle since the pulmonary loop is much shorter then the whole body.
The muscle on left ventricle is much stronger then anywhere in the heart and that's just a confirmation of the whole picture. So, the right answer on your question will depend on the heart chamber and exact time of heart cycle.
Hope this helps.

 

[AliDeLaLouisa]

highest when waiting for mcat score

?

 

[RogueUnicorn]

The highest blood pressure in the entire body is in the heart at one specific moment and locale: the left ventricle right before the Aortic Valve opens. Once the valve opens, the pressure decreases (PV relationship, V has instantaneously increased). In addition, the force of the blood is lost (remember, P = F/A) by a number of hemodynamic and mechanical factors (i.e., friction, viscosity, etc.).

However, this difference in pressure isn't significant enough to warrant a clinical (or MCAT) difference, so for most intents and purposes, Aorta has the same pressure.

But yeah, The farther you get away from the generation of force (i.e., pressure), the less pressure there will be (why your blood doesn't "pump" without a heart).

My 2 cents.

false, the pressure will continue to rise for a short time afterwards.

 

[Kittee]

false, the pressure will continue to rise for a short time afterwards.

I disagree. Yes, the left ventricle continues to contract, but the volume has changed, so the pressure generated only slows the rate of reducing pressure.

Whoops, looks like you're correct: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cardiac_Cycle_Left_Ventricle.PNG