What are the two pressures obtained when measuring blood pressure?

The two pressures obtained when measuring blood pressure are systolic and diastolic. Systolic pressure refers to the force exerted on the walls of the arteries when the heart beats and pumps blood. It is the higher of the two readings and indicates how hard the blood is pushing against the artery walls during cardiac contraction.

Diastolic pressure, on the other hand, is the force of the blood against the arteries when the heart is at rest between beats. It reflects the lowest pressure in the arteries and indicates how much pressure is present in the system when the heart is filling with blood.

Together, these two readings provide essential information about the cardiovascular health of an individual. The systolic and diastolic pressures are typically expressed as two numbers in a blood pressure reading, such as 120/80 mmHg, where the first number is systolic and the second is diastolic. This combination is crucial for diagnosing various conditions related to heart health and blood circulation.

The other options suggest different measures that are not standard in blood pressure assessments, such as mean pressure, which averages systolic and diastolic pressures, or terms like "resting" and "active," which do not specifically pertain to conventional blood pressure readings.