NETA Personal Trainer Practice Exam

What is the equation for blood pressure?

1. Blood Pressure = Heart Rate x Stroke Volume

2. Blood Pressure = Cardiac Output x Total Peripheral Vascular Resistance

3. Blood Pressure = Heart Rate + Total Peripheral Vascular Resistance

4. Blood Pressure = Stroke Volume - Cardiac Output

The correct answer is: Blood Pressure = Cardiac Output x Total Peripheral Vascular Resistance

The equation for blood pressure is accurately represented by the relationship where blood pressure is the product of cardiac output and total peripheral vascular resistance. Cardiac output refers to the volume of blood the heart pumps per minute, which is determined by heart rate and stroke volume. Total peripheral vascular resistance is a measure of the resistance to blood flow in the systemic circulation caused by the vasculature. This equation highlights that when cardiac output increases, and if the resistance remains constant, blood pressure will rise. Conversely, if the resistance increases (for example, due to vasoconstriction), blood pressure will also rise assuming cardiac output remains stable. Understanding this relationship is crucial for recognizing how various physiological changes can affect arterial pressure, which is fundamental in fitness and health assessments as well as exercise programming. The other options, while they include various components of cardiovascular physiology, do not accurately represent the established relationship between the factors that determine blood pressure. For instance, heart rate and stroke volume alone cannot provide a comprehensive measure of blood pressure without considering resistance, nor can one simply add heart rate and resistance to quantify blood pressure effectively.