What does blood pressure (BP) measure?

Blood pressure measures the pressure exerted by blood against the walls of the arteries as it circulates throughout the body. This physiological metric provides crucial information about cardiovascular health and the effectiveness of the heart in pumping blood. Blood pressure is typically expressed as two numbers: systolic pressure, which is the peak pressure during heartbeats, and diastolic pressure, which is the pressure between heartbeats when the heart is at rest.

Understanding blood pressure is essential for assessing conditions such as hypertension or hypotension, which can lead to serious health issues if left unregulated. This measurement reflects not only how well the heart functions but also the overall status of the arteries and circulation in the body.

The other options, while related to cardiovascular function, do not accurately define what blood pressure measures. For instance, the volume of blood in the body pertains to overall blood volume and is not solely indicative of pressure. Flow of blood through the veins involves venous return and is distinct from arterial pressure measurement. Heartbeat rate reflects the frequency of heart contractions but does not describe pressure levels in the arterial system.