Total peripheral resistance refers to the cumulative resistance of the thousands of arterioles in the body, or the lungs, respectively. It is approximately equal to the resistance of the arterioles, since the arterioles are the chief resistance vessels in the body.

Total Peripheral Resistance = Mean Arterial Pressure / Cardiac Output

The total peripheral resistance of healthy lung arterioles is typically about 0.15 to 0.20 that of the body, so pulmonary artery mean blood pressures are typically about 0.15 to 0.20 of aortic mean blood pressures.

Arterioles are referred to as resistance vessels because of their peripheral resistance.

See also

• Blood pressure

Arteries