The diastolic blood pressure and a systolic blood pressure of a vertebrate are measured using an inflatable pressure cuff disposed about a limb of the vertebrate and connected to an inflation device through a single conduit. A pressure sensor is pneumatically connected to the cuff through the same common conduit. The sensed pressures at the diastolic and systolic points are corrected for a pressure differential associated with the flow of an inflation fluid through the common conduit. The sensed pressures at the diastolic point and the systolic point may be measured during inflation of the cuff or during controlled deflation of the cuff.