What vital sign provides information about the average pressure in a person's arteries during one cardiac cycle?

Blood pressure is the vital sign that provides information about the average pressure in a person's arteries during one complete cardiac cycle. It comprises two measurements: systolic pressure, which is the maximum pressure during heartbeats when the heart pumps blood, and diastolic pressure, which is the minimum pressure when the heart is at rest between beats. By assessing blood pressure, healthcare professionals can evaluate cardiovascular health and understand how well blood is flowing through the arteries, which is crucial for diagnosing possible heart-related conditions.

In contrast, respiratory rate measures how many breaths a person takes in a minute, pulse indicates the heart rate or number of heartbeats per minute, and temperature reflects the body’s thermal state, none of which give insights specifically about arterial pressure during the cardiac cycle.