A Patient's Blood Pressure Is Defined to Be the Pressure

Multiple Choice

A patient's blood pressure is defined to be the pressure exerted by the blood upon the walls of the blood vessels, especially the arteries, usually measured by means of a sphygmomanometer. Blood pressure is normally expressed as a fraction in millimeters of mercury. The numerator of the fraction is the maximum pressure when the heart contracts, forcing blood out of the heart. The denominator is the minimum pressure when the heart is filling with blood. The suggested optimal blood pressure of 130/80 is the ratio of 130 mm of mercury to 80 mm of mercury. Express these measurements in cm.

A) 1.3 cm of mercury; 0.8 cm of mercury
B) 13.0 cm of mercury; 8.0 cm of mercury
C) 1300 cm of mercury; 800 cm of mercury
D) 12.9 cm of mercury; 7.9 cm of mercury
E) 13.1 cm of mercury; 8.1 cm of mercury