Module 4 - Arterial Pulses

Question 1

What is a rhythmic expansion of an artery that may be felt with the finger

Answer 1

Arterial pulse

Question 2

What does the arterial pulse represent

Answer 2

The heart contracting and pushing blood out into the circulation

Question 3

How low can a pulse rate drop for an adult whilst asleep

Answer 3

40 BPM

Question 4

During exercise how high can the pulse rate in an adult rise

Answer 4

200-220 BPM

Question 5

What are the common sites for taking a pulse

Answer 5

Carotid artery in the neck
Radial artery at the wrist
Femoral artery in the groin
Popliteal artery behind the knee
Posterior tibial in the foot
Dorsalis pedis in the foot

Question 6

What can a pulse tell us about the patients

Answer 6

State of circulatory system
Do they suffer from arterial disease or not

Question 7

Apart from using the feel of the fingers how else can you measure the blood flow in the arteries and veins

Answer 7

Using a Doppler ultrasound