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Short term regulation of arterial blood pressure5

Ezeeldeen Abu Joudeh ID:1305

Introduction:

Arterial pressure directly corresponds to cardiac output, arterial
elasticity, and peripheral vascular resistance.

Blood pressure is remarkably easy to alter and can be affected
by many activities.
Maintaining blood pressure within normal limits is essential.

A blood pressure between 140/80 mmHg to 159/99
mmHg is classified to as stage 1 hypertension.

• [1] Categorization of Stage 2 hypertension is a pressure
between 160/100 mmHg to 179/109 mmHg.
• [2] Hypertensive urgency describes a blood pressure
greater than 180/120 mmHg and hypertensive emergency refers to a very high blood pressure that
results in potentially life-threatening symptoms and end-organ damage.
• [3] Hypotension, on the other hand, is a blood pressure less than 90/60 mmHg.
• [4] It is crucial for the body to be able to adjust to acute changes in blood pressure and for the patient to
receive medical treatment or lifestyle adjustments for chronic variations.

The cardiovascular center forms part of the autonomic nervous system and is responsible for regulation of
cardiac output. Located in the medulla oblongata, the cardiovascular center contains three distinct components:
the cardioaccelerator center, the cardioinhibitor center, and the vasomotor cente.The cardioaccelerator center
stimulates cardiac function by regulating heart rate and stroke volume via sympathetic stimulation from the
cardiac accelerator nerve. The cardioinhibitor center slows cardiac function by decreasing heart rate and stroke
volume via parasympathetic stimulation from the vagus nerve.

Mechanism:

There are several mechanisms through which the body regulates arterial pressure.

Baroreceptor Reflex:

In response to acute changes in blood pressure, the body responds through the baroreceptors located within
blood vessels.
Baroreceptors are a form of mechanoreceptor that become activated by the stretching of the vessel.

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