NREMT Paramedic Exam 2026 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The mean arterial pressure (MAP) is a critical parameter that represents the average blood pressure in a person's arteries during one cardiac cycle. The correct formula for calculating MAP is derived from the concept of how long the heart is in systole compared to diastole during each heartbeat.

Using the formula Diastolic + 1/3 Pulse Pressure allows clinicians to take into consideration the difference between systolic and diastolic pressures, known as pulse pressure, while recognizing that the heart spends more time in diastole than in systole. Pulse pressure is calculated by subtracting diastolic pressure from systolic pressure, and then dividing it by 3 accounts for the duration the heart spends in each phase of the cycle. Thus, adding this one-third of the pulse pressure to the diastolic value provides an accurate measurement of the mean arterial pressure.

This understanding is crucial for emergency medicine and patient monitoring, as maintaining adequate MAP is essential for ensuring that vital organs receive sufficient blood flow.