Blood Pressure in the Leech Hirudo Medicinalis

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Abstract
Intravascular pressure recordings in the lateral vessels of the leech, Hirudo medicinalis, show two distinct pressure patterns: high pressure phases (diastolic pressure: 5 ± 3 mmHg, systolic pressure: 48 ± 14mmHg) alternate with low pressure phases (diastolic pressure: 4 ± 2.5 mmHg, systolic pressure: 26 ± 11 mmHg). The lateral vessel of one side produces high pressure pulses during peristaltic action while the other vessel generates low pressure pulses during non-peristaltic action. After 20–60 pulses a transition occurs, which sometimes appears more gradually.