What is defined as the pressure felt when the heart contracts?

The correct answer refers to blood pressure, which is the measure of the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of the body's arteries as the heart contracts. When the heart beats and contracts, it pumps blood into the arteries, creating a peak pressure known as systolic blood pressure. This value is typically included in the measurement of blood pressure, which is represented as two numbers (systolic over diastolic).

Pulse, on the other hand, is not a measure of pressure itself but rather the tactile arterial palpation of the heartbeat, which indicates the number of times the heart beats per minute. The heart rate measures how many times the heart beats in a minute, while cardiac output is the total volume of blood being pumped by the heart per minute. Understanding these terms is crucial for evaluating cardiovascular health, where blood pressure is a primary indicator.