Blood pressure is normally taken on the upper arm at the level of the heart. Sup
ID: 1529915 • Letter: B
Question
Blood pressure is normally taken on the upper arm at the level of the heart. Suppose, however, that a patient has his arms in a cast so you cannot take his blood pressure in the usual way. If you have him stand up and take the blood pressure at his calf, which is 86.5 cm below his heart, what would be the magnitude of the difference between this measurement of blood pressure and a normal blood pressure measurement? The density of blood is 1060 kg/m^3. ___________ mm Hg Is the blood pressure measure in the calf larger or smaller than the blood pressure measured on the upper arm? larger smaller
Explanation / Answer
density = 1060, g = 9.8 m/s2
pressure = density * g * h
= 1060 * 9.8 * 0.865
= 8985.62 Pa
= 67.4 mmHg