MAP can be calculated using SBP and DBP as

MAP can be calculated using SBP and DBP as

• A. (SBP + 2*DBP)/3
• B. SBP
• C. DBP
• D. SBP − DBP

Answer: (C)

Mean arterial pressure measures the average pressure in the arteries over a whole heartbeat, and it reflects the pressure driving blood through the circulation. Because the heart spends more time in diastole than systole, the diastolic pressure counts more in the average. The standard approximation uses both systolic and diastolic pressures: MAP ≈ (SBP + 2 × DBP) / 3. If you used only the systolic value, you’d miss the substantial part of the cycle spent in diastole; using only the diastolic value would miss the peak pressure during systole; and subtracting diastolic from systolic gives pulse pressure, a different measure.

Mean arterial pressure measures the average pressure in the arteries over a whole heartbeat, and it reflects the pressure driving blood through the circulation. Because the heart spends more time in diastole than systole, the diastolic pressure counts more in the average. The standard approximation uses both systolic and diastolic pressures: MAP ≈ (SBP + 2 × DBP) / 3. If you used only the systolic value, you’d miss the substantial part of the cycle spent in diastole; using only the diastolic value would miss the peak pressure during systole; and subtracting diastolic from systolic gives pulse pressure, a different measure.