Cardiac Vascular Nursing Certification Practice Exam 2026 – Your All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

Peripheral vascular resistance plays a crucial role in regulating blood pressure, and its relationship is fundamentally tied to the principles outlined in the relationship between blood pressure, cardiac output, and vascular resistance. Blood pressure, defined as the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels, can be conceptualized using the equation: Blood Pressure = Cardiac Output × Peripheral Vascular Resistance.

When stroke volume increases, it directly influences cardiac output. However, if peripheral vascular resistance simultaneously increases, the overall effect on blood pressure can be significant. Therefore, the coupling of stroke volume with peripheral vascular resistance is essential in understanding how blood pressure is maintained within normal ranges and how it can vary under different physiological conditions.

In systemic circulation, peripheral vascular resistance is primarily influenced by the diameter of the blood vessels. Vasoconstriction increases resistance and thus raises blood pressure, while vasodilation decreases resistance, leading to a reduction in blood pressure. This interconnection between stroke volume and vascular resistance emphasizes the complexity of cardiovascular dynamics and is critical for maintaining homeostasis in the cardiovascular system.