Blood pressure measured using a sphygmomanometer
If the cuff is too small, it takes a falsely high pressure in the cuff to transmit sufficient pressure to the vessel wall for total occlusion of the aery.Blood pressure may be falsely high in patients with badly stiffened aeries because of the extra pressure needed to compress the aeries.
May be falsely low with too narrow cuff
May be falsely low in patients with badly stiffened aeries
May be falsely high in obese patients
Gives a direct reading of mean aerial pressure
General physiology