Blood Pressure | Factors Maintaining Blood Pressure

Some key factors that control or maintain blood pressure, are listed below:

Central Factors:
It includes-

• Cardiac output,
• Heart rate.

Peripheral Factors:
It includes-

• Peripheral resistance,
• Blood volume,
• Venous return,
• The elasticity of blood vessels,
• The viscosity of blood flow,
• The diameter of blood vessels,
• The viscosity of blood.

All the above factors have discussed in the following:

1. Cardiac Output:
Systolic pressure is directly proportional to cardiac output. This means when cardiac output increases, the systolic blood pressure is increased and when cardiac output is less, the systolic blood pressure is reduced.

2. Heart Rate:
Marked alteration in the heart rate affects the blood pressure by altering the cardiac output.

3. Peripheral Resistance:
Diastolic pressure is directly proportional to peripheral resistance. This means, when peripheral resistance increases, diastolic pressure increases, and when peripheral resistance decreases diastolic pressure decreases.

4. Blood Volume:
Blood pressure is directly proportional to blood volume. If the blood volume increases, there is an increase in venous and cardiac output, resulting in elevation of blood pressure.

5. Venous Return:
Blood pressure is directly proportional to venous return. When venous return increases, there is an increase in ventricular filling and cardiac output, resulting in an elevation of arterial blood pressure.

6. The elasticity of Blood Vessels:
Blood pressure is inversely proportional to the elasticity of blood vessels. This means when the elasticity of blood vessels is reduced (as in atherosclerosis) blood pressure increases.

7. The velocity of Blood Flow:
Blood pressure is directly proportional to the velocity of blood flow within blood vessels. If the velocity of blood flow increases, the resistance is increased. So, blood pressure is increased.

8. The diameter of Blood Pressure:
Blood pressure is inversely proportional to the diameter of the blood vessel. If the diameter decreases, the peripheral resistance increases, leading to an increase in blood pressure.

9. The viscosity of Blood:
Blood pressure is directly proportional to the viscosity of blood. When the viscosity of blood increases, the functional resistance is increased and this increases blood pressure.

More questions related to this article:

1. Define blood pressure.
2. What is the definition of blood pressure?
3. What do you mean by blood pressure?
4. Name the factors controlling blood pressure.
5. Describe the key factors in maintaining blood pressure.