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A common way to measure pressure is in "mm of Hg" or millimeters of Mercury. The reason that this unit of pressure is based on a unit of length is because of how pressure was measured originally. A curved tube full of mercury metal was used by Robert Boyle in the 17th century to measure pressure. Briefly, it works like this. Imagine a tube of glass bent into a U-shape with mercury inside. If both ends of the tube are open to air, the level of the mercury in each side of the "U" will be equal. However, if additional pressure was applied to the air above one side, it would cause the mercury on that side to drop, and the mercury on the other side would rise. The "mm of Hg" refers to the difference in height between the two sides. The bigger the difference in pressure between the two sides, the bigger the height difference. Note, that the measurement is inherently a relative measurement (one side of the tube relative to the other). One atmosphere (atm) is equal to 760 mm Hg. This is because if you have a perfect vacuum on one side of the U-shaped tube and 1 atmosphere or air pressure on the other side, the difference in height will be 760 millimeters (independent of the diameter of the glass tubing). Also, 1 torr is equal to 1 mm of Hg. For more information see: http://www.chm.davidson.edu/ChemistryApplets/GasLaws/Pressure.html

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What is the measurement between systolic and diastolic?

The measurement between systolic and diastolic blood pressure is called pulse pressure. It is calculated by subtracting the diastolic blood pressure from the systolic blood pressure. Typically, a healthy pulse pressure is around 40 mmHg, but this can vary depending on individual factors.


Why use mmHg?

mmHg (millimeters of mercury) is commonly used as a unit of pressure in medical settings because it provides a precise measurement of blood pressure. The column of mercury in a device like a sphygmomanometer allows for accurate tracking of changes in pressure, which is important for assessing cardiovascular health. Additionally, mmHg is easy to convert to other pressure units and is a standard measurement used in clinical practice.


What is 15-20 mm HG?

15-20 mm Hg refers to a pressure measurement unit known as millimeters of mercury. This range is commonly used to measure blood pressure, with 15-20 mm Hg usually being considered a low range for diastolic blood pressure. It can also be used in other applications to measure pressure, such as in monitoring the pressure within the eye.


What is the standard unit for measuring blood preassure?

The blood-pressure numbers are in units of mm-Hg. That's the pressure at the bottom of a column of mercury that's that many millimeters tall. For a comparison, a typical healthy systolic pressure may be 120. On exactly the same scale and in the same units, the Earth's atmospheric pressure at sea level is 760 . If your blood pressure were 760, it wouldn't be for long, because you would most likely explode.


How many tsp is 8 millimeters?

Teaspoons are a measurement of volume while millimeters are a measurement of length. You can not convert one into the other.

Related Questions

If a patient has a systolic blood pressure of 120 millimeters of mercury what is the complete unit of this measurement?

The complete unit of measurement for blood pressure, including a systolic reading of 120 millimeters of mercury, is expressed as mmHg. This unit indicates the pressure exerted by the blood against the walls of the arteries, with "mm" representing millimeters and "Hg" standing for mercury, which is the substance historically used in barometers and sphygmomanometers.


What is the standard unit of measurement for pressure in the medical field, and how is it represented in millimeters of mercury (mmHg)?

The standard unit of measurement for pressure in the medical field is millimeters of mercury (mmHg). This unit is commonly used to measure blood pressure, with a normal range being around 120/80 mmHg.


What is the measurement between systolic and diastolic?

The measurement between systolic and diastolic blood pressure is called pulse pressure. It is calculated by subtracting the diastolic blood pressure from the systolic blood pressure. Typically, a healthy pulse pressure is around 40 mmHg, but this can vary depending on individual factors.


What is blood pressure measurement?

the non-invasive measurement of the pressure exerted by the circulating blood on the walls of the body's arteries.


What is the syandard measure of blood pressure?

The standard measure of blood pressure is the millimeters of mercury.


Why is mmHg used as a unit of measurement for pressure?

mmHg, or millimeters of mercury, is used as a unit of measurement for pressure because it is a convenient and widely accepted unit in the field of medicine and science. It is commonly used to measure blood pressure and atmospheric pressure due to its historical significance and practicality in these applications.


Is blood pressure an absolute measurement or is it measured on a gauge?

Blood pressure is not an absolute measurement, but rather it is measured using a gauge.


What in your body is expressed in millimeters and mercury?

Blood pressure


Normal blood pressure in millimeters of mercury is?

120/180


Describe the normal ranges for each type of blood pressure measurement?

Blood pressure measurements are a combination of the systolic and diastolic pressure. Ideally, blood pressure should be under 120 in the systolic measurement and 80 in the diastolic measurement, commonly notated as 120 over 80.


What is a normal blood pressure for a 6 foot 4 inch man weighing 230 pounds?

I found this on http://healthfullife.umdnj.edu - Optimum blood pressure - less than 120 millimeters of mercury systolic and less than 80 millimeters of mercury diastolic - Normal blood pressure - 120 to 129 millimeters of mercury systolic, 80 to 84 millimeters of mercury diastolic - High normal - 130 to 139 millimeters of mercury systolic, 85 to 89 millimeters of mercury diastolic


What is the first measurement of blood pressure?

Systolic