Britannica AI Icon

systolic blood pressure

physiology

Quick Summary

Systolic blood pressure is the higher of the two numbers recorded when measuring blood pressure. It represents the force blood exerts on artery walls as the heart contracts to pump blood to the body's organs and tissues. In healthy individuals, systolic pressure typically ranges between 90 and 120 millimeters of mercury (mmHg). This pressure is generated by the heart's pumping action and is crucial for maintaining blood flow throughout the vascular system. The measurement is taken indirectly using a sphygmomanometer, often on the brachial artery in the arm.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
  1. blood pressure
  2. sphygmomanometer

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.