what is mean arterial pressure

Mean arterial pressure (MAP) is the average arterial pressure throughout one cardiac cycle, systole, and diastole. It is influenced by cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance, each of which is influenced by several variables. Cardiac output is calculated as the product of heart rate and stroke volume, while systemic vascular resistance is determined by the tone of the arterioles. A common method used to estimate the MAP is the following formula: MAP = DP + 1/3(SP – DP) or MAP = DP + 1/3(PP), where DP is the diastolic blood pressure, SP is the systolic blood pressure, and PP is the pulse pressure. A normal MAP is between 70 and 100 mmHg, and if the MAP drops below 60 mmHg, there is a concern there won’t be enough pressure to perfuse vital organs including the brain. On the other hand, if the MAP is above 100 mmHg, the patient may be experiencing high artery pressure, which may lead to blood clots or heart muscle damage. Mean arterial pressure can serve to help diagnose both hypertensive and hypotensive states and provide diagnostic information for clinicians to make informed therapy decisions.