Blood pressure is typically measured using which device, and what does systolic pressure represent?

• A. Measured with a sphygmomanometer; systolic pressure corresponds to the peak pressure during ventricular systole
• B. Systolic pressure corresponds to minimum pressure during diastole
• C. Blood pressure is measured with a stethoscope; systolic pressure is the average arterial pressure
• D. Diastolic pressure is the peak pressure during systole

Answer: (A)

Blood pressure is measured with a sphygmomanometer, typically using a cuff around the upper arm (often with a stethoscope to listen for the Korotkoff sounds). As the cuff deflates, the first tapping sound marks the systolic pressure—the peak arterial pressure reached during ventricular contraction (ventricular systole). After the sounds disappear, the pressure recorded is the diastolic pressure, the minimum arterial pressure during ventricular relaxation (diastole). So the statement that ties the cuff-based device to systolic pressure being the peak during systole is the correct one. The other options mix up the measuring method or what systolic and diastolic pressures represent.