What does blood pressure (BP) measure?

• A. Temperature of the body
• B. Pressure exerted by blood on vessel walls
• C. Heart rate
• D. Respiration rate

Answer: (B)

Blood pressure (BP) specifically measures the pressure exerted by circulating blood against the walls of blood vessels, particularly the arteries. This pressure is a critical indicator of the cardiovascular system's functionality and health, reflecting the force that blood applies as the heart pumps it throughout the body.

When measuring blood pressure, two readings are taken: systolic pressure, which occurs when the heart beats and pumps blood into the arteries, and diastolic pressure, which occurs when the heart is at rest between beats. The relationship between these pressures provides valuable insight into a person's cardiovascular health, and changes in blood pressure can signal a variety of health conditions.

In contrast, other options refer to entirely different physiological measurements: body temperature reflects thermal regulation of the body, heart rate measures the number of times the heart beats in a minute, and respiration rate gauges the number of breaths taken per minute. Each of these is important in assessing overall health, but they do not pertain to blood pressure.