Final answer:
The top number in blood pressure represents the systolic pressure, while the bottom number represents the diastolic pressure.
Step-by-step explanation:
When taking a patient's blood pressure, the top number is the systolic pressure and the bottom number is the diastolic pressure. The systolic pressure is the higher value and reflects the arterial pressure resulting from the ejection of blood during ventricular contraction. The diastolic pressure is the lower value and represents the arterial pressure of blood during ventricular relaxation.