Pulse(the pressure of the blood pushing against the wall

of an artery as the heart beats)

Sites where pulse may be felt• Temporal – side of forehead• Carotid – neck• Brachial – antecubital space (crease of elbow)• Radial – inner aspect of wrist; thumb side• Femoral – inner aspect of upper thigh• Popliteal – behind the knee• Dorsalis pedis – on top of foot arch (pedal pulse)

Pulse Variables1. Rate – number of beats per minute• Adults: 60-90

Men: 60-70Women: 65-80

• Children over 7: 70-90• Children 1-7: 80-110• Infants: 100-160

tachycardia- pulse rate too highbradycardia- pulse rate too low

2. Rhythm – regularity of pulse• regular or irregular• Arrhythmia – irregular or abnormal rhythm

3. Volume – strength or intensity of pulse• Described by words such as thready, weak, strong, bounding

Measuring an Apical PulseApical pulse • Taken at the apex of the heart with a stethoscope• Done on patients with irregular heartbeats, hardening of

the arteries, or weak or rapid radial pulses• Each heartbeat makes “lubb-dupp” sound (caused by

closing of heart valves)

Pulse deficit• Condition in which the apical pulse rate is higher than the

rate at other pulse sites• Caused by the heart being too weak or beating too fast• To find pulse deficit, subtract peripheral pulse rate from

apical pulse rate• Example: apical pulse is 130, radial pulse is 92 (130-

92=38), pulse deficit is 38

Factors which increase pulse rate• Excitement• Fever• Shock• Exercise• Stimulant drugs

Factors which decrease pulse rate• Sleep• Depressant drugs• Heart disease