Arterial pressure is the force exerted by blood on the walls of blood vessels and chambers of the heart. It results from the pressure exerted by blood in the large arteries and depends on cardiac output and total peripheral resistance. Arterial pressure fluctuates with each heartbeat according to the pumping of the heart and is influenced by factors like cardiac output, peripheral vascular resistance, blood volume, blood viscosity, and elasticity of vessel walls. Blood pressure readings have two values - systolic pressure occurring during heart contraction and diastolic pressure during heart relaxation.