Mean arterial pressure
| Mean arterial pressure | |
|---|---|
Representation of the arterial pressure waveform over one cardiac cycle. The notch in the curve is associated with closing of the aortic valve. | |
| MeSH | D062186 |
In medicine, the mean arterial pressure (MAP) is an average calculated blood pressure in an individual during a single cardiac cycle. Although methods of estimating MAP vary, a common calculation is to take one-third of the pulse pressure (the difference between the systolic and diastolic pressures), and add that amount to the diastolic pressure. A normal MAP is about 90 mmHg.
Mean arterial pressure = diastolic blood pressure + (systolic blood pressure - diastolic blood pressure)/3
MAP is altered by cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance. It is used clinically to estimate the risk of cardiovascular diseases, where a MAP of 90 mmHg or less is low risk, and a MAP of greater than 96 mmHg represents "stage one hypertension" with increased risk.