III Glossary
Open Resources for Nursing (Open RN)
Diastole: The phase between each contraction of the heart when the ventricles are filling with blood.
Diastolic blood pressure: The resting pressure of blood on the arteries between each cardiac contraction.
Hypertension: Elevated blood pressure over 130/80 mmHg in an adult.
Hypotension: Decreased blood pressure less than 90/60 mmHg in an adult.
Korotkoff sounds: The audible sounds of blood pressure named after Dr. Korotkoff who discovered them.
Orthostatic hypotension: A decrease in blood pressure by at least 20 mmHg systolic or 10 mmHg diastolic within three minutes of standing from a seated or lying position.
Sphygmomanometer: A device used to measure blood pressure and is commonly referred to as a blood pressure cuff.
Systole: The phase of the heartbeat when the left ventricle contracts and pumps blood into the arteries.
Systolic blood pressure: The maximum pressure of blood on the arteries during the contraction of the left ventricle of the heart referred to as systole.
