Question

Describe the working method and uses of sphygmomanometer.

Answer 1

The doctors usually check the blood pressure whenever there is a disease or a symptom. The blood is the fluid that flows in our body to transport main components like oxygen, water to the whole body. It flows in veins and arteries. Arteries carry the oxygenated blood while the veins carry the deoxygenated blood.

Complete answer:
Blood pressure is measured with the help of a sphygmomanometer. The blood exerts a pressure while flowing through the veins and arteries on their walls, this is measured using the sphygmomanometer. The high and low blood pressure, both are not good for an ideal body functioning.

Working: It has an inflatable air bladder cuff. The stethoscope is used to measure the pressure in the arteries. But there is a blood gradient away from the heart. The farther arteries are called the brachial artery located in the upper arm. The blood pressure is measured from this artery. The sphygmomanometer is usually studied in units of millimetres of mercury written as mm Hg.

The air bladder cuff is tightened on the upper arm and the pressure is increased by filling the cuff with air. This will cease the flow of blood in that area. The pressure is slowly released to note the systolic and diastolic pressure. The systolic pressure is 120 mm Hg and the diastolic pressure is 180 mm Hg.

Uses: It is used for measuring the pressure of blood in the case of high blood pressure, low blood pressure, hypertension, arterial blockage, any cardiovascular problem, pulsus alternans etc.

Note: Sphygmo means pulse or beating of the heart, manometer means a device to measure. Thus the word became a sphygmomanometer. There are 3 types-aneroid, mercury and digital. The aneroid sphygmomanometer is the most accurate to use. It is easy for maintenance also.