A patient's blood pressure is recorded as 130/80 mmHg. What is the mean arterial pressure?

• A 85 mmHg
• B 97 mmHg ✓
• C 105 mmHg
• D 110 mmHg

Explanation

Mean arterial pressure equals diastolic pressure plus one third of the pulse pressure, because diastole lasts longer than systole at rest. Here the pulse pressure is 50 mmHg, one third of which is about 17, giving 80 plus 17, approximately 97 mmHg. The value of 105 comes from taking half the pulse pressure instead of one third, which assumes equal durations of systole and diastole and is incorrect at a normal heart rate.

Reference: Ganong Review of Medical Physiology, 26th ed.

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