Understanding Arterial Pressure Waveforms

Extracted from text ... REGISTRAR PRIZE 40 Understanding arterial pressure waveforms their relation to the cardiac cycle the difference in waveforms recorded from different body sites The arterial pulse is the result of a wave of vascular distention, initiated by the impact of the stroke volume ejected into a closed system with every heartbeat. The forward-propagating pressure wave has both a fast-moving (10m/sec) and slower (0, 5m/sec) component.5 The wave is reflected back mostly by the arteriole, which provides the majority of peripheral vascular resistance.6 Peak aortic blood flow acceleration produces the initial rise of the pressure pulse, whereas the ejection ..