Blood pressure is constantly changing due to internal and external influences. The body counteracts these changes via the baroreflex by altering heart rate, stroke volume and peripheral resistance. The integrity of the baroreflex is often measured by baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), the ratio of change in RR-interval to change in systolic pressure (SP). The simple model assumed by BRS is a black box, with an input, SP levels, and an output, RR-intervals, therefore BRS represents the gain of the system. If RR-intervals and SP levels are changing cyclically, for example in response to regular breathing, the phase offset between the input and output can also be measured.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:493067 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | Bowers, Emma Jane |
| Publisher | University of Newcastle Upon Tyne |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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