Palpable Pulses

Summary Information: Palpable Pulses

Palpable Pulses: Palpable pulses are the tangible heartbeats that can be felt in various arterial sites throughout the body, such as at the wrist and neck. Palpable pulses are created by the force of the contraction of the right ventricle of the heart that is transmitted through the walls of the arteries. Palpable pulses are only felt in arteries and not in veins, which are too far from the right ventricle for the force of heartbeats to be palpable. Palpating pulses is an important diagnostic assessment. Normally, palpable pulses can be felt by the fingers, but in some conditions, such as shock and low blood pressure, and in some normal circumstances, an instrument called a doppler may be needed to find palpable pulses and amplify them so it can be heard. Palpable pulses can be felt in sites where an artery can be compressed against a bone. The most commonly palpated pulses are the radial pulse, carotid pulse, temporal pulse, femoral pulse, tibialis posterior pulse, popliteal pulse, and dorsalis pedis pulse. Conditions that can afflict the palpable pulses include arterial clots, arterial embolisms, hemorrhage, shock, cardiac arrhythmias, and cardiac arrest.

Closely Related Organs: Palpable Pulses

The following organs are closely related to the organ: Palpable Pulses:

• Apical pulse
• Heart
• Heartbeat
• Arteries
• Veins
• Right ventricle of the heart
• Circulatory system

Conditions Afflicting Organs: Palpable Pulses

The following conditions are related to the organ: Palpable Pulses:

• Arterial clots
• Arterial embolisms
• Hemorrhage
• Shock
• Cardiac arrhythmias
• Cardiac arrest

Other Names: Palpable Pulses

The following are other names for the organ: Palpable Pulses:

• Palpable pulse

Sub Parts: Palpable Pulses

The following list contains sub-parts of the organ: Palpable Pulses:

• Radial pulse
• Carotid pulse
• Temporal pulse
• Femoral pulse
• Tibialis posterior pulse
• Popliteal pulse
• Dorsalis pedis pulse

Symptoms Related to Afflictions of: Palpable Pulses

These symptoms are related to afflictions of the organ: Palpable Pulses:

• Weak pulses
• Absent pulses
• Abnormal heart rhythms
• Absence of heartbeat
• Hypotension
• Cold, pale extremity
• Extremity cyanosis

Condition count: 0

Organs: list of all organs

Palpable Pulses: Related Topics

• Palpable

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