pulse pressure

pressure /pres·sure/ (P ) (presh´er) force per unit area.

---

arterial pressure  blood p. (2).

blood pressure 

1. the pressure of blood against the walls of any blood vessel.

2. the pressure of blood on the walls of the arteries, dependent on the energy of the heart action, elasticity of the arterial walls, and volume and viscosity of the blood; the maximum or systolic pressure occurs near the end of the stroke output of the left ventricle, and the minimum or diastolic late in ventricular diastole.

central venous pressure  (CVP) the venous pressure as measured at the right atrium, done by means of a catheter introduced through the median cubital vein to the superior vena cava.

cerebrospinal pressure  the pressure or tension of the cerebrospinal fluid, normally 100–150 mm. as measured by the manometer.

detrusor pressure  the pressure exerted inwards by the detrusor urinae muscles of the bladder wall.

diastolic pressure , diastolic blood pressure see blood p.

end-diastolic pressure  the pressure in the ventricles at the end of diastole, usually measured in the left ventricle as an approximation of the end-diastolic volume, or preload.

intracranial pressure  (ICP) pressure of the subarachnoidal fluid.

intraocular pressure  the pressure exerted against the outer coats by the contents of the eyeball.

intravesical pressure  the pressure exerted on the contents of the urinary bladder; the sum of the intra-abdominal pressure from outside the bladder and the detrusor pressure.

maximum expiratory pressure  (MEP) a measure of the strength of respiratory muscles, obtained by having the patient exhale as strongly as possible against a mouthpiece; the maximum value is near total lung capacity.

maximum inspiratory pressure  (MIP) a measure of the strength of respiratory muscles, obtained by having the patient inhale as strongly as possible with the mouth against a mouthpiece; the maximum value is near the residual volume.

mean arterial pressure  (MAP) the average pressure within an artery over a complete cycle of one heartbeat.

mean circulatory filling pressure  a measure of the average (arterial and venous) pressure necessary to cause filling of the circulation with blood; it varies with blood volume and is directly proportional to the rate of venous return and thus to cardiac output.

negative pressure  pressure less than that of the atmosphere.

oncotic pressure  the osmotic pressure due to the presence of colloids in solution.

osmotic pressure  the pressure required to prevent osmosis through a semipermeable membrane between a solution and pure solvent; it is proportional to the osmolality of the solution. Symbol π.

partial pressure  the pressure exerted by each of the constituents of a mixture of gases.

positive pressure  pressure greater than that of the atmosphere.

positive end-expiratory pressure  (PEEP) a method of mechanical ventilation in which pressure is maintained to increase the volume of gas left in the lungs at the end of exhalation, reducing shunting of blood through the lungs and improving gas exchange.

pulmonary artery wedge pressure  (PAWP), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) intravascular pressure as measured by a catheter wedged into the distal pulmonary artery ; used to measure indirectly the mean left atrial pressure.

pulse pressure  the difference between systolic and diastolic pressures.

systolic pressure , systolic blood pressure see blood p.

Valsalva leak point pressure  the amount of pressure on the bladder by a Valsalva maneuver at which leakage of urine occurs; a measure of strength of the urethral sphincters.

venous pressure  the pressure of blood in the veins.

wedge pressure  blood pressure measured by a small catheter wedged into a vessel, occluding it, e.g., pulmonary capillary wedge p.

wedged hepatic vein pressure  the venous pressure measured with a catheter wedged into the hepatic vein; used to locate the site of obstruction in portal hypertension.

---

pulse pressure

n.

The variation in blood pressure occurring in an artery during the cardiac cycle; the difference between systolic and diastolic pressures.

---

pulse pressure,

the difference between the systolic and diastolic blood pressures, normally 30 to 50 mm Hg.

---

pressure,

n a stress or strain that may occur by compression, pull, or thrust; an applied force.

pressure area,

n See area, pressure.

pressure atrophy,

n See atrophy, pressure.

pressure, biting,

n the actual or potential power used in bringing the teeth into contact. See also pressure, occlusal.

pressure, blood,

n See blood pressure.

pressure, deeper,

n a pressure to the body–in excess of that which stimulates Meissner's corpuscles, Merkel's disks, or the hair receptors of light touch–that stimulates the deeper receptors such as Pacini's corpuscles. These latter deep-pressure perception organs lie in the inner layers of the dermis and in the muscle and tendon groups.

pressure, equalization of,

n the act of distributing pressure evenly.

pressure, hand,

n force applied by an instrument held in the hand.

pressure, hydraulic,

n pressure transmitted by a liquid trapped between the tooth and a restoration being cemented.

pressure, hydrostatic,

n the pressure in the circulatory system exerted by the volume of blood when it is confined in a blood vessel. The hydrostatic pressure, coupled with the osmotic pressure within a capillary is opposed by the hydrostatic and osmotic pressure of the surrounding tissues. Fluids flow from the higher pressure areas to the lower pressure areas.

pressure, intrapleural,

n pressure within the pleura.

pressure, occlusal,

n any force exerted on the occlusal surfaces of teeth. See also force, occlusal and load, occlusal.

pressure, osmotic,

n the stress that develops when solutions containing different concentrations of solute in a common solvent are separated by a membrane that is permeable to the solvent but not the solute.

pressure, partial,

n the pressure exerted by each of the constituents of a mixture of gases.

pressure, pulse,

n the difference between systolic and diastolic pressure.

pressure sensibility,

n the ability to detect light touch and deep pressure. See also corpuscle, Meissner's; corpuscle, Merkel's; and corpuscle, Pacini's.

pressure sore,

n a decubitus ulcer caused when the bony protuberances of the body are subjected to chronic pressure from the weight of the body without breaks.

---

pulse (pls) (puls),

n the rhythmic expansion and contraction of arteries resulting from the surges of blood through the arteries. The pulse can be felt by the fingers in arteries that are close to the skin.

pulse, arterial,

n the pulsation of an artery produced by the rise and fall in blood pressure as the heart goes into systole and diastole and observed clinically by palpation of the radial artery. The pulse rate at birth is approximately 130 beats/min and diminishes to approximately 70 beats/min in the healthy adult. The range of normalcy is around 60 to 80 beats/min.

pulse, brachial

n the rhythmic expansion and contraction of the artery located at the inside of the arm at the elbow.

pulse, carotid

n the rhythmic expansion and contraction of the carotid arteries. The carotid pulse can be measured from palpation of the carotid artery on either side of the neck.

pulse pressure,

n See pressure, pulse.

pulse, venous,

n pulsation of a vein, most easily felt in the right jugular vein.

---

pressure

stress or strain, by compression, expansion, pull, thrust or shear.

---

arterial pressure

the blood pressure in the arteries.

atmospheric pressure

the pressure exerted by the atmosphere, about 15 lb per square inch (2.17 kPa) at sea level.

capillary pressure

the blood pressure in the capillaries.

central venous pressure (CVP)

see central venous pressure.

cerebrospinal pressure

the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid, normally 100 to 150 mmHg.

diastolic pressure

the lowest pressure recorded in the arterial blood pressure cycle. Represents the minimal pressure in the left ventricle which can maintain its ejection phase. See also blood pressure.

pressure gauge

a device attached to the outlet of gas tanks to measure internal pressure which indicates the quantity of gas remaining.

pressure gradient

the rate of increase (or decrease) in the magnitude of the pressure being measured.

intracranial pressure (ICP)

see intracranial pressure.

intraocular pressure (IOP)

the pressure exerted against the outer coats by the contents of the eyeball.

pressure load

see flowload.

mean circulatory filling pressure

a measure of the average (arterial and venous) pressure necessary to cause filling of the circulation with blood; it varies with blood volume and is directly proportional to the rate of venous return and thus to cardiac output.

pressure natriuresis

thought to participate in regulating the volume of extracellular fluid levels when the normal neurohumoral mediators are impaired; the increase in water and sodium ion excretions which occur when blood pressure is elevated because of an increase in the circulating blood volume.

pressure necrosis

necrosis of tissue caused by exclusion of circulation by external compression, e.g. in prolonged recumbency, or due to too-tight bandage, collar, harness.

negative pressure

pressure less than that of the atmosphere.

oncotic pressure

the osmotic pressure of a colloid in solution.

osmotic pressure

the potential pressure of a solution directly related to its solute osmolar concentration; it is the maximum pressure developed by osmosis in a solution separated from another by a semipermeable membrane, i.e. the pressure that will just prevent osmosis between two such solutions.

pressure point granuloma

see pressure points (below).

pressure point pyoderma

see pressure points (below).

pressure points

parts of the body subject to pressure when the animal is recumbent, wearing harness or saddlery, or during restraint. Usually bony prominences such as the point of the hock, hip, shoulder, elbow and lateral aspects of limbs. These are predisposed to callus formation, infection pyoderma and granulomas.

positive pressure

pressure greater than that of the atmosphere.

pulse pressure

difference between systolic and diastolic pressures in arteries.

pressure receptors

e.g. the blood pressure receptors in the aortic arch and the carotid sinus.

pressure sore

decubitus ulcer.

systolic pressure

the highest reading in the arterial blood pressure cycle. A reflection of the ejection pressure of left ventricular systole, and the elasticity of the arterial system.

venous pressure

the blood pressure in the veins. See also central venous pressure.

wedge pressure

intravascular pressure as measured by a swan-ganz catheter introduced into the pulmonary artery; it permits indirect measurement of the mean left atrial pressure.

pressure wrap

bandages which apply pressure to underlying tissues; used after trauma to limit the development of edema, and in the management of lymphedema.

---

pulse

1. a rhythmic wave.

2. any leguminous seed used in animal feed or human food. Contain about 20% protein.

3. the beat of the heart as felt through the walls of arteries. What is felt is not the blood pulsing through the arteries but a shock wave, generated by the abrupt ejection of blood from the heart, that travels along the arteries. The arterial pulse wave can be measured by a sphygmograph. The resulting tracing shows ascending and descending limbs.

Palpating facial artery pulse in a horse. By permission from Darke P, Kelly DF, Bonagura JD, Color Atlas of Veterinary Cardiology, Mosby, 1995

---

abdominal pulse

that over the abdominal aorta.

pulse abnormality

includes irregularity of timing and amplitude, large or small amplitude, waterhammer pulse, Corrigan's pulse, dropped pulse, pulse deficit, alternating pulse and many others.

alternating pulse

pulsus alternans; one with regular alteration of weak and strong beats without changes in cycle length.

pulse amplitude

indicative of arterial blood pressure; estimated on the difference of pressure exerted by the fingers to occlude and then reopen the arterial pulse.

anacrotic pulse

one in which the ascending limb of the tracing shows a transient drop in amplitude, or a notch.

anadicrotic pulse

one in which the ascending limb of the tracing shows two small additional waves or notches.

anatricrotic pulse

one in which the ascending limb of the tracing shows three small additional waves or notches.

arterial pulse

the wave of pressure generated by the ejection of blood from the left ventricle into the aorta. Although the size (amplitude) of the pulse depends on the volume ejected it is not the blood passing the finger that is palpated, it is only the pressure wave. The pulse is a good indicator of the heart's activity with respect to amplitude, rate and regularity. It may also provide information on the state of the vessel walls and the efficiency of the aortic semilunar valves. It may be palpated in the median, facial, femoral or coccygeal arteries, the preferred site varying with the species and the occasion.

atrial venous pulse

atriovenous pulse, a cervical pulse having an accentuated 'a' wave during atrial systole, owing to increased force of contraction of the right atrium; a characteristic of tricuspid stenosis.

B-B shot pulse

see water-hammer pulse (below).

bigeminal pulse

one in which two beats occur in rapid succession, the groups of two being separated by a longer interval, usually related to regularly occurring ventricular premature beats.

catadicrotic pulse

see catadicrotism.

catatricrotic pulse

see catatricrotism.

pulse-chase experiment

to study the movement of macromolecules, cells are incubated with a radiolabeled precursor (pulse) and then replaced with unlabeled precursor (chase). The label can be followed as it is incorporated into newly synthesized compounds and through different cellular compartments.

Corrigan's pulse

see corrigan's pulse.

pulse deficit

the difference between the apical pulse and the radial pulse. Obtained by counting apical beats as heard through a stethoscope over the heart and counting the arterial pulse at the same time. A characteristic of several arrhythmias.

dicrotic pulse

a pulse characterized by two peaks, the second peak occurring in diastole and being an exaggeration of the dicrotic wave.

pulse dosing

the administration of drugs, usually antibiotics or corticosteroids, in a single, large dose which might be repeated after an interval of days. Thought to have the advantage of high tissue levels and fewer of the undesirable side-effects associated with more frequent dosing.

dropped pulse

arrhythmic pulse.

femoral pulse

that which is located at the site where the femoral artery passes through the groin in the femoral triangle; the usual site for palpating the pulse in dogs and cats.

fetal pulse detector

an ultrasound detector based on the Doppler principle used to detect the presence of a living fetus in utero.

funic pulse

the arterial tide in the umbilical cord.

pulse generator

the power source for a cardiac pacemaker system, usually powered by a lithium battery. It supplies electrical impulses to the implanted electrodes. See also pacemaker.

hard pulse

one characterized by high tension.

jerky pulse

see water-hammer pulse (below).

jugular pulse

comprises the movements of the wall of the jugular vein in response to pressure changes in the right atrium. Much more visible if the vein is distended. A reflection of increased pressure in the right atrium or insufficiency of the right A-V valve. A small pulse is normal in most food animals. A large pulse which goes high up the neck when the head is in the normal position, and which is synchronous with the heart cycle and is systolic in time, indicates insufficiency of the right atrioventricular valve.

pulse monitor

a pulse detector which uses the Doppler principle.

paradoxical pulse

one that markedly decreases in amplitude during inspiration.

peripheral pulse

that palpable in the extremities, e.g. legs, neck and head; the usual sites for measuring the pulse rate.

pistol-shot pulse

one in which the arteries are subject to sudden distention and collapse.

pulse pressure

the difference between the systolic and diastolic pressures.

radial pulse

that felt over the radial artery.

pulse rate

the number of pulsations per minute palpable in an artery, usually of a limb. The normal rates per minute for the common domestic animal species are: horses, 30 to 40; young horses up to one year of age, 70 to 80; cattle, 60 to 80; young calves, 100 to 120; sheep and goats, 70 to 120; pigs (heart rate), 60 to 70; dogs, 100 to 130; cats, 110 to 140; adult fowls 250 to 300.

pulse rhythm

regularity of the pulse in time and amplitude.

thready pulse

one that is very fine and barely perceptible.

pulse tracing

see sphygmogram.

tricrotic pulse

see tricrotism.

trigeminal pulse

one with a pause after every third beat.

undulating pulse

one giving the sensation of successive waves.

vagus pulse

a slow pulse.

venous pulse

the pulsation over a vein.

water-hammer pulse

one in which the artery is suddenly and markedly distended and relaxed. Characteristic of patent ductus arteriosus. Called also Corrigan's, jerky and B-B shot pulse.

wiry pulse

a small, tense pulse.