Sphygmomanometer bp monitor bp machine

Medical Definition of Sphygmomanometer

Sphygmomanometer: An instrument for measuring blood pressure, particularly in arteries. The two types of blood pressure monitor are a mercury column and a gauge with a dial face. The blood pressure machine in most frequent use today consists of a gauge attached to a rubber cuff wrapped around the upper arm and is inflated to constrict the arteries.

A blood pressure reading consists of two numbers: systolic and diastolic. Systolic refers to systole, the phase when the heart pumps blood out into the aorta. Diastolic refers to diastole, the resting period when the heart refills with blood. At each heartbeat, blood pressure is raised to the systolic level, it drops to the diastolic level.