types of arterial pulse
Last reviewed 01/2018
- carotid pulse:
- incline the head to relax sternomastoid on the palpated side
- feel medial to sternomastoid and lateral to the upper trachea or lower larynx
- the laryngeal prominence may be used as a landmark; palpate lateral to this
- never palpate bilaterally
- brachial pulse - a third of the way over from the medial condyle
- radial pulse - medial to the radius
- femoral pulse - below inguinal ligament; a third of the way up from pubic tubercle
- popliteal pulse - with knee flexed at right angles palpate deep in the midline
- posterior tibial pulse - 1cm behind medial malleolus
- dorsalis pedis pulse - variable on dorsum, just lateral to tendons to big toe