1. 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)

2. Pulse Variables Rate – number of beats per minute Adults: 60-90
Men:
Women:
Children over 7:
Children 1-7:
Infants:
tachycardia- pulse rate too high
bradycardia- pulse rate too low
Rhythm – regularity of pulse
regular or irregular
Arrhythmia – irregular or abnormal rhythm
Volume – strength or intensity of pulse
Described by words such as thready, weak, strong, bounding

3. Measuring an Apical 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

4. Factors which increase pulse rate
Excitement
Fever
Shock
Exercise
Stimulant drugs
Factors which decrease pulse rate
Sleep
Depressant drugs
Heart disease