Blood pressure is the force applied against the walls of the
arteries as the heart pumps blood through the body. The pressure is
determined by the force and amount of blood pumped and the size and
flexibility of the arteries.
Review Date: 07/29/2010
Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, and David R. Eltz.
Previously reviewed by David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of
Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine,
University of Washington School of Medicine (5/26/2010).
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
