Blood pressure varies between a _____________ pressure and a diastolic pressure.

Blood pressure consists of two key measurements: systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure is the higher number in a blood pressure reading and represents the force exerted by the blood against the arteries when the heart beats and pumps blood. This is crucial for understanding how blood is circulated throughout the body and is vital for assessing cardiovascular health. In contrast, diastolic pressure is the lower number, indicating the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest between beats.

Understanding that blood pressure is defined by these two phases—systolic (the higher pressure) during heart contraction and diastolic (the lower pressure) during heart relaxation—provides a clear framework for monitoring and responding to a patient's cardiovascular status.