This document provides instructions for measuring blood pressure and pulses. It describes how to measure systolic and diastolic blood pressure by palpation and auscultation using a sphygmomanometer and stethoscope. It also explains how to locate and count two of the following pulses: carotid, temporal, facial, brachial, radial, ulnar, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis. Diagrams and descriptions are provided for each pulse location.

1. Blood Pressure
and Pulses

2. Measuring
Blood Pressure

3. Task
Estimate systolic blood pressure by
palpation. Measure systolic and diastolic
blood pressure by auscultation
 Preparation – 4 marks
 Palpation – 2 marks
 Auscultation – 4 marks

4. Setting up
 Alcohol Gel
 Clean your hands
 Make it visible to the examiner
 Introduce yourself
 “Hello. Good morning. My name is YOUR NAME. I’m a first year
medical student from University of Manchester”
 Confirm
 “May I please confirm your name?”
 “How would you like me to call you today?”

5. Setting up (cont’d)
 Informed Consent – explain what is involved
 EXPLAIN
 “Alright PATIENT NAME. I have been asked to check your blood
pressure. This will involve me putting this cuff around your arm
and inflating it”
 “This might feel a bit tight but it shouldn’t hurt”
 “I will inflate the cuff twice, or more if needed”
 “If at anytime you feel uncomfortable please let me know”
 CONSENT
 “Is that okay with you?”
 “Do you have a preference as to which arm I use?
Check :
IV lines / cannulas
Female pt. ask for birth control implants

6. Preparation
 “ Could you please roll up your sleeves to about here” (show
the patient how up you’d like them)
 “would you like any help with that?”
 Check Equipment
 Sphygmomanometer
 Cuff is fully deflated
 Dial is at zero
 Stethoscope
 Put the stethoscope on with the earpieces pointing forwards
 Gently tap the diaphragm and make sure you can hear a sound, if
you can’t then turn the tap on

7. Preparation (Cont’d)
 Make sure the Sphygmomanometer is away from patient’s
view
 Look for brachial artery
 Rest Pt. arm on the bench
 Ask them to bend their elbow
 Feel for the Biceps tendon
 Brachial artery medial to tendon
 Deflate the cuff and wrap it around pt. arm (according to the
arrow)

8. Estimating Systolic BP
 To examiner: “ I will first get an estimate for the Pt. systolic
blood pressure by palpating for their radial pulse”
 Find Pt. radial pulse
 Located lateral of forearm
 Inflate the cuff
 Up to 200mmHg
 Usually, up to this point the pulse is no longer palpable
 Deflate the cuff slowly
 To the point where the pulse becomes palpable again
 This is your estimated systolic blood pressure

9. Estimating Systolic BP
Report: “The patient’s systolic blood pressure is ______
mmHg.

10. Systolic & Diastolic BP
 Make the sure the sphygmomanometer is at 0.
 Put the stethoscope on
 Place the diaphragm on patients brachial artery
 located on the upper arm medial to the humerus
 Inflate the cuff 30mmHg above your estimated systolic
pressure value
 Deflate the cuff slowly
 First sound you hear = systolic pressure
 When this sound disappears = diastolic pressure

11. Systolic & Diastolic BP
Report:
“The patient’s systolic blood pressure is ______ mmHg
and diastolic pressure is ______ mmHg, accurate up to 2
mmHg”

12. Pulses
Examination

13. Task
 Should be able to locate and count any two of the
following pulses:
 carotid
 temporal
 facial
 brachial
 radial
 ulnar
 posterior tibial
 dorsalis pedis
Location and accurate measurement of each pulse – 4 marks

14. Carotid Pulse
Image 1: How to feel for the pulse Image 2: Anatomy of carotid artery
 Located in the Neck
 medial to sternocleidomastoid muscle
 Carotid artery
 Feel for it on one side only!

15. Temporal Pulse
Image 1: How to feel for the pulse Image 2: Anatomy of temporal artery
 Located on the temple bone
 Directly infront of the ear
 Superficial Temporal Artery
 Feel for it on one side only!

16. Facial Pulse
Image 1: How to feel for the pulse Image 2: Anatomy of facial artery
 Located on the Mandible (lower jawbone) on a line with the
corners of the mouth
 Facial artery
 Feel for it on one side only!

17. Brachial Pulse
Image 1: How to feel for the pulse Image 2: Anatomy of brachial artery
 Located on upper arm
 Medial to humerus
 Brachial Artery

18. Radial Pulse
Image 1: How to feel for the pulse Image 2: Anatomy of radial artery
 Located on the lateral of the wrist
 Radial Artery

19. Ulnar Pulse
Image 1: How to feel for the pulse Image 2: Anatomy of ulnar artery
 Located on the medial of the wrist
 Ulnar Artery

20. Posterior Tibial Pulse
Image 1: How to feel for the pulse Image 2: Anatomy of posterior tibial artery
 Located on the medial side of ankle
 2cm inferior and 2cm posterior to the medial malleolus
 Posterior Tibial Artery

21. Dorsalis Pedis Pulse
Image 1: How to feel for the pulse Image 2: Anatomy of dorsal pedis artery
 Located on the top of the foot
 Immediately lateral to the extensor hallucis longus
 Dorsal Pedis Artey

22. Thank you
Questions?