Sphygmomanometer

Definition

A sphygmomanometer is a medical device used to measure blood pressure, consisting of an inflatable cuff to restrict blood flow, and a mercury or aneroid gauge to measure the pressure. It plays a critical role in diagnosing hypertension and monitoring blood pressure levels in patients.

Related terms

Blood Pressure:

The force exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, usually measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).

Hypertension:

A chronic medical condition where the systemic arterial blood pressure is elevated, which requires the heart to work harder than normal to circulate blood through the blood vessels.

Diastolic Pressure:

The minimum arterial pressure during relaxation and dilatation of the ventricles of the heart when they fill with blood