Segment V2.1: Blood Pressure Measurement

(Related to Textbook Section 2.6.2 - U-Tube Manometer)

A manometer is a pressure measuring device that uses the heights of static liquid columns to determine pressure. Manometers come in a variety of sizes and shapes and are used in many different applications.

A familiar manometer is commonly found in a physician's office for the determination of blood pressure. A cuff is placed around the arm and inflated to a pressure above the pressure in the arm (brachial) artery and slowly deflated. Appropriate readings of the column height of the attached mercury manometer give the peak (systolic) pressure and the lowest (diastolic) pressure, typically in millimeters of mercury.