AQA · A-Level · Physical Education
Course version: 7582 · Version from Sept 2016
Relationship with blood pressure (systolic, diastolic).
Full specification wording
Cardiovascular system: Relationship with blood pressure (systolic, diastolic).
Blood pressure is the force exerted by blood against the walls of the arteries.
Checked against the AQA 7582 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 19 of 25
- 3 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Blood pressure is the force exerted by blood against the walls of the arteries. Systolic pressure is the higher value, recorded when the ventricles contract and eject blood into the aorta, while diastolic pressure is the lower value, recorded when the ventricles relax and fill. A typical resting reading is written as systolic over diastolic, for example 120/80 mmHg. During exercise, systolic pressure rises because cardiac output increases and more blood is ejected with greater force, while diastolic pressure usually changes little or may fall slightly because vasodilation in working muscles reduces peripheral resistance. This relationship matters because it shows how the cardiovascular system balances increased blood flow to active muscles against the need to maintain pressure for perfusion of the brain and other vital organs.
What earns the marks
- Systolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries when the ventricles contract and eject blood.
- Diastolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries when the ventricles relax and refill.
- Blood pressure is recorded as systolic over diastolic, for example 120/80 mmHg.
- During exercise, systolic pressure increases because cardiac output and the force of ventricular contraction rise.
- Diastolic pressure changes little or may decrease during exercise because vasodilation in working muscles lowers peripheral resistance.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Reversing the definitions; correction: systolic pressure occurs during ventricular contraction, while diastolic pressure occurs during ventricular relaxation.
Believing both values rise equally during exercise.
Put it right: Systolic pressure rises markedly, while diastolic pressure usually stays similar or falls slightly.
Thinking diastolic pressure is the pressure when the heart stops.
Put it right: It is the pressure during the relaxation and filling phase of the cardiac cycle.
Ignoring units; correction: blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury, written as mmHg.
Exam tips
- Write blood pressure readings in the conventional systolic over diastolic form, for example 120/80 mmHg, and state the units.
- When explaining exercise responses, link the rise in systolic pressure to increased cardiac output and the small change in diastolic pressure to vasodilation.
- Use the terms "ventricular contraction" and "ventricular relaxation" rather than vague phrases such as "heart beating".
Try the lesson
The start of the Cardiovascular system: Relationship with blood pressure (systolic, diastolic). lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which of the following correctly identifies what the systolic blood pressure value represents?
Listen
Blood pressure is the force exerted by blood against the walls of the arteries. Systolic pressure is the higher value, recorded when the ventricles contract and eject blood into the aorta, while diastolic pressure is the lower value, recorded when the ventricles relax and fill. A typical resting reading is written as systolic over diastolic, for example 120/80 mmHg. During exercise, systolic pressure rises because cardiac output increases and more blood is ejected with greater force, while diastolic pressure usually changes little or may fall slightly because vasodilation in working muscles reduces peripheral resistance. This relationship matters because it shows how the cardiovascular system balances increased blood flow to active muscles against the need to maintain pressure for perfusion of the brain and other vital organs. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Systolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries when the ventricles contract and eject blood. Diastolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries when the ventricles relax and refill. Blood pressure is recorded as systolic over diastolic, for example 120/80 mmHg. During exercise, systolic pressure increases because cardiac output and the force of ventricular contraction rise. A common slip: Believing both values rise equally during exercise. Instead, systolic pressure rises markedly, while diastolic pressure usually stays similar or falls slightly. Exam tip: Write blood pressure readings in the conventional systolic over diastolic form, for example 120/80 mmHg, and state the units.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Systolic pressure
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Diastolic pressure
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Blood pressure reading
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Systolic pressure
- The higher value, recorded when the ventricles contract and eject blood into the aorta.
- Diastolic pressure
- The lower value, recorded when the ventricles relax and fill.
- Blood pressure reading
- Recorded as systolic over diastolic, for example 120/80 mmHg.
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