Title: The pulse
Course: Non-Communicable Diseases, Emergency Care and Mental Health Part 1 - Ethiopia (Full)

The pulse

The pulse is a pressure wave of the heart that travels along the arteries and arterioles every time the left ventricle contracts and forces blood out. It can be felt where an artery can be pressed against a bone. You can do this most easily by feeling the big artery on the left or right side of the neck, or the artery in the wrist (see Figure 1.5). The pulse rate measured at the wrist is about 60 to 80 beats per minute. If the pulse rate is less than 60 beats/minute, the pulse is considered to be 'slow', and if it is more than 80 beats/minutes it is considered to be a fast pulse.

Figure 1.5 Pressure points where you can feel the pulse.