Which term describes the rhythmic pressure exerted by blood against vessel walls?

The term that describes the rhythmic pressure exerted by blood against vessel walls is pulse. The pulse represents the expansion and contraction of the arteries as blood flows through them with each heartbeat. Normally felt at pulse points, such as the wrist or neck, it provides crucial information about heart rate and the strength of the heartbeat.

In the context of cardiovascular physiology, the pulse is a direct reflection of the vascular system's response to the heart's contractions, translating the force of the heart’s output into a palpable sensation. This rhythmic nature is what distinguishes pulse from other related terms.

Heart rate, for example, refers specifically to the number of times the heart beats in a minute, while blood flow encompasses the movement of blood through the circulatory system. Cardiac output relates to the total volume of blood the heart pumps out in a minute, combining heart rate and stroke volume, but does not represent the pulsatile force itself. Thus, pulse is the most accurate term to define the rhythmic pressure exerted by blood against vessel walls.