Anatomy and Physiology of Pulses and Blood Pressure

Brachial Artery

An artery located in the upper arm that is commonly used to measure blood pressure.

Radial Artery

An artery located in the wrist, often used to assess pulse rate.

Ulnar Artery

An artery located in the forearm that supplies blood to the hand.

Carotid Arteries

Major arteries located in the neck that supply blood to the brain, neck, and face.

Femoral Artery

A large artery in the thigh that supplies blood to the lower limb.

Popliteal Artery

An artery located behind the knee that branches into the arteries of the lower leg.

Posterior Tibial Artery

An artery that supplies blood to the back of the lower leg and foot.

Dorsalis Pedis Artery

An artery located on the top of the foot that supplies blood to the foot and toes.

Blood Pressure

The force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels, typically measured in mmHg.

Systolic Pressure

The maximum pressure in the arteries during the contraction of the heart.

Diastolic Pressure

The minimum pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest between beats.

Pulse Pressure

The difference between systolic and diastolic pressure, indicating the force the heart generates each time it beats.

Orthostatic Hypotension

A condition characterized by a significant drop in blood pressure upon standing, often leading to dizziness.

Cuff Size

The size of the blood pressure cuff, which must be appropriate for the patient's arm size to ensure accurate readings.

Proper Positioning

The correct placement of the blood pressure cuff at heart level to obtain accurate measurements.

Wrist Blood Pressure

A method of measuring blood pressure at the wrist

Heart Rate (HR)

The number of beats per minute of the heart, often assessed alongside pulse.

Arm Position Effect

The change in blood pressure readings that can occur based on whether the arm is raised or lowered relative to the heart.