Pulse

<p>In <a href="/facts/Medicine/2fnp90Je">medicine</a>, the pulse refers to the rhythmic pulsations (expansion and contraction) of an <a href="/facts/Artery/Y1Yj0jat">artery</a> in response to the <a href="/facts/Cardiac_cycle/b93n3ecF">cardiac cycle</a> (heartbeat). The pulse may be felt (<a href="/facts/Palpated/6tnvdcJY">palpated</a>) in any place that allows an artery to be compressed near the surface of the body close to the skin, such as at the <a href="/facts/Neck/v69tnMYk">neck</a> (<a href="/facts/Carotid_artery/SWXel2bJ">carotid artery</a>), <a href="/facts/Wrist/scSMl0zG">wrist</a> (<a href="/facts/Radial_artery/aRw0Rqy3">radial artery</a> or <a href="/facts/Ulnar_artery/fNYEn2xb">ulnar artery</a>), at the <a href="/facts/Groin/49jqnbc3">groin</a> (<a href="/facts/Femoral_artery/qL6wx3T9">femoral artery</a>), behind the <a href="/facts/Knee/gJJScKdB">knee</a> (<a href="/facts/Popliteal_artery/YTePmDul">popliteal artery</a>), near the <a href="/facts/Ankle_joint/jk7FpfJs">ankle joint</a> (<a href="/facts/Posterior_tibial_artery/HRYk8MsJ">posterior tibial artery</a>), and on foot (<a href="/facts/Dorsalis_pedis_artery/5zGoXhLp">dorsalis pedis artery</a>). The pulse is most commonly measured at the wrist or neck for adults and at the brachial artery (inner upper arm between the shoulder and elbow) for infants and very young children. A <a href="/facts/Sphygmograph/fbPQgQK1">sphygmograph</a> is an instrument for measuring the pulse.
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Pulse open-in-new

Pulse