pulse (puls) the rhythmic expansion of an artery that may be felt with the finger.
pulse
pulse [puls]
alternating pulse one with regular alternation of weak and strong beats without changes in cycle length.
anacrotic pulse one in which the ascending limb of the tracing shows a transient drop in amplitude.
bigeminal pulse one in which two beats occur in rapid succession, the groups of two being separated by a longer interval.
cannonball pulse Corrigan's p.
capillary pulse Quincke's p.
catadicrotic pulse one in which the descending limb of the tracing shows two small notches.
Corrigan's pulse jerky pulse with full expansion and sudden collapse.
dicrotic pulse a pulse characterized by two peaks, the second peak occurring in diastole and being an exaggeration of the dicrotic wave.
entoptic pulse a phose occurring with each pulse beat.
hard pulse one characterized by high tension.
jerky pulse one in which the artery is suddenly and markedly distended.
paradoxical pulse one that markedly decreases in size during inhalation, as often occurs in constrictive pericarditis.
pistol-shot pulse Corrigan's p.
plateau pulse one that is slowly rising and sustained.
quadrigeminal pulse one with a pause after every fourth beat.
Quincke's pulse alternate blanching and flushing of the nail bed due to pulsation of subpapillary arteriolar and venous plexuses; seen in aortic insufficiency and other conditions and occasionally in normal persons.
Riegel's pulse one that is smaller during respiration.
thready pulse one that is very fine and scarcely perceptible.
tricrotic pulse one in which the tracing shows three marked expansions in one beat of the artery.
trigeminal pulse one with a pause after every third beat.
vagus pulse a slow pulse.
venous pulse the pulsation over a vein, especially over the right jugular vein. 
)
Normal jugular venous pulse: A, a positive wave due to contraction of the right atrium; C, a positive deflection due to bulging of the tricuspid valve toward the atria at the onset of ventricular contraction; X, a negative deflection due to atrial relaxation; V, a positive deflection due to filling of the right atrium against the closed tricuspid valve during ventricular contraction; Y, a negative deflection due to emptying of the right atrium upon ventricular relaxation.
water-hammer pulse Corrigan's p.
wiry pulse a small, tense pulse.
pulse (p ls)n. The rhythmical dilation of arteries produced when blood is pumped outward by regular contractions of the heart, especially as palpated at the wrist or in the neck. |
pulse
Etymology: L, pulsare, to beat
1 a rhythmic beating or vibrating movement.
2 a brief electromagnetic wave.
3 the regular, recurrent expansion and contraction of an artery, produced by waves of pressure caused by the ejection of blood from the left ventricle of the heart as it contracts. The pulse is easily detected on superficial arteries, such as the radial and carotid arteries, and corresponds to each beat of the heart.
pulse [puls]
1. pulsation.
2. the beat of the heart as felt through the walls of a peripheral artery, such as that felt in the radial artery at the wrist. Other sites for pulse measurement include the side of the neck (carotid artery), the antecubital fossa (brachial artery), the temple (temporal artery), the anterior side of the hip bone (femoral artery), the back of the knee (popliteal artery), and the instep (dorsalis pedis artery).
What is felt is not the blood pulsing through the arteries (as is commonly supposed) but a shock wave that travels along the walls of the arteries as the heart contracts. This shock wave is generated by the pounding of the blood as it is ejected from the heart under pressure. It is analogous to the hammering sound heard in steam pipes as the steam is forced into the pipes under pressure. A pulse in the veins is too weak to be felt, although sometimes it is measured by sphygmograph (see below); the tracing obtained is called a phlebogram.
The pulse is usually felt just inside the wrist below the thumb by placing two or three fingers lightly upon the radial artery. The examiner's thumb is never used to take a pulse because its own pulse is likely to be confused with that of the patient. Pressure should be light; if the artery is pressed too hard, the pulse will disappear entirely. The number of beats felt in exactly 1 minute is the pulse rate.
In taking a pulse, the rate, rhythm, and strength or amplitude of the pulse are noted. The average rate in an adult is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. The rhythm is checked for possible irregularities, which may be an indication of the general condition of the heart and the circulatory system.
The amplitude of a pulse can range from totally impalpable to bounding and full; however, such terms are vague and subject to misinterpretation. To provide a more standardized description of pulse amplitude some agencies and hospitals use a scale that provides a more objective evaluation and reporting of the force of a pulse. On such a scale zero would mean that the pulse cannot be felt; +1 would indicate a thready, weak pulse that is difficult to palpate, fades in and out, and is easily obliterated with slight pressure; +2 would be a pulse that requires light palpation but once located would be stronger than a +1; +3 would be considered normal; and a +4 pulse would be one that is strong, bounding, easily palpated, and perhaps hyperactive, and could indicate a pathological condition such as aortic regurgitation.
If a pulse is noted to be weaker during inhalation and stronger during exhalation (pulsus paradoxus), this could indicate either greater reduction in the flow of blood to the left ventricle than is normal, as in constrictive pericarditis or pericardial effusion, or a grossly exaggerated inspiratory maneuver, as in tracheal obstruction, asthma, or emphysema.
An instrument for registering the movements, form, and force of the arterial pulse is called a sphygmograph. The sphygmographic tracing (or pulse tracing) consists of a curve having a sudden rise (primary elevation) followed by a sudden fall, after which there is a gradual descent marked by a number of secondary elevations.
What is felt is not the blood pulsing through the arteries (as is commonly supposed) but a shock wave that travels along the walls of the arteries as the heart contracts. This shock wave is generated by the pounding of the blood as it is ejected from the heart under pressure. It is analogous to the hammering sound heard in steam pipes as the steam is forced into the pipes under pressure. A pulse in the veins is too weak to be felt, although sometimes it is measured by sphygmograph (see below); the tracing obtained is called a phlebogram.
The pulse is usually felt just inside the wrist below the thumb by placing two or three fingers lightly upon the radial artery. The examiner's thumb is never used to take a pulse because its own pulse is likely to be confused with that of the patient. Pressure should be light; if the artery is pressed too hard, the pulse will disappear entirely. The number of beats felt in exactly 1 minute is the pulse rate.
In taking a pulse, the rate, rhythm, and strength or amplitude of the pulse are noted. The average rate in an adult is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. The rhythm is checked for possible irregularities, which may be an indication of the general condition of the heart and the circulatory system.
The amplitude of a pulse can range from totally impalpable to bounding and full; however, such terms are vague and subject to misinterpretation. To provide a more standardized description of pulse amplitude some agencies and hospitals use a scale that provides a more objective evaluation and reporting of the force of a pulse. On such a scale zero would mean that the pulse cannot be felt; +1 would indicate a thready, weak pulse that is difficult to palpate, fades in and out, and is easily obliterated with slight pressure; +2 would be a pulse that requires light palpation but once located would be stronger than a +1; +3 would be considered normal; and a +4 pulse would be one that is strong, bounding, easily palpated, and perhaps hyperactive, and could indicate a pathological condition such as aortic regurgitation.
If a pulse is noted to be weaker during inhalation and stronger during exhalation (pulsus paradoxus), this could indicate either greater reduction in the flow of blood to the left ventricle than is normal, as in constrictive pericarditis or pericardial effusion, or a grossly exaggerated inspiratory maneuver, as in tracheal obstruction, asthma, or emphysema.
An instrument for registering the movements, form, and force of the arterial pulse is called a sphygmograph. The sphygmographic tracing (or pulse tracing) consists of a curve having a sudden rise (primary elevation) followed by a sudden fall, after which there is a gradual descent marked by a number of secondary elevations.
Pulses palpated during assessment of the arterial system.
abdominal pulse that over the abdominal aorta.
alternating pulse one with regular alteration of weak and strong beats without changes in cycle length. Called also pulsus alternans.
anacrotic pulse one in which the ascending limb of the tracing shows a transient drop in amplitude, or a notch.
anadicrotic pulse one in which the ascending limb of the tracing shows two extra small waves or notches.
anatricrotic pulse one in which the ascending limb of the tracing shows three extra small waves or notches.
apical pulse the pulse over the apex of the heart, as heard through a stethoscope or palpated.
atrial venous pulse (atriovenous pulse) a venous pulse in the neck that has an accentuated a wave during atrial systole, owing to increased force of contraction of the right atrium; a characteristic of tricuspid stenosis.
bigeminal pulse one in which two beats occur in rapid succession, the groups of two being separated by a longer interval, usually related to regularly occurring ventricular premature beats. Called also pulsus bigeminus.
bisferious pulse pulsus bisferiens.
brachial pulse that which is felt over the brachial artery at the inner aspect of the elbow; palpated before taking blood pressure to determine location for the stethoscope.
capillary pulse Quincke's pulse.
carotid pulse the pulse felt over the carotid artery, which lies between the larynx and the sternocleidomastoid muscle in the neck; frequently used to assess effectiveness of cardiac massage during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It can be felt by pushing the muscle to the side and pressing against the larynx, or, if the patient is dyspneic, by palpating the pulse at the groove in the muscle.
catadicrotic pulse one in which the descending limb of the tracing shows two small notches.
catatricrotic pulse one in which the descending limb of the tracing shows three small additional waves or notches.
Corrigan's pulse a jerky pulse with full expansion and sudden collapse occurring in aortic regurgitation; called also water-hammer pulse.
dicrotic pulse a pulse characterized by two peaks, the second peak occurring in diastole and being an exaggeration of the dicrotic wave; called also pulsus bisferiens.
dorsalis pedis pulse the pulse felt on the top of the foot, between the first and second metatarsal bones. In 8 to 10 per cent of the population this pulse cannot be detected.
entoptic pulse a subjective sensation of seeing a flash of light in the dark with each heart beat.
femoral pulse one located where the femoral artery passes through the groin in the femoral triangle.
funic pulse the arterial tide in the umbilical cord.
hard pulse (high-tension pulse) one with a gradual impulse, long duration, slow subsidence, and a firm state of the artery between beats.
jerky pulse one in which the artery is suddenly and markedly distended.
paradoxical pulse one that markedly decreases in amplitude during inhalation, as often occurs in constrictive pericarditis.
pistol-shot pulse Corrigan's pulse.
plateau pulse one that is slowly rising and sustained.
popliteal pulse one palpated in the popliteal fossa, most easily detected when the patient is lying prone with the knee flexed about 45 degrees.
posterior tibial pulse a pulse felt over the posterior tibial artery just posterior to the ankle bone on the inner aspect of the ankle.
quick pulse one that strikes the finger smartly and leaves it quickly; called also pulsus celer.
Quincke's pulse alternate blanching and flushing of the skin that may be elicited in several ways, such as by pressing on the end of the nail and observing the nail bed or skin at the root of the nail. It is caused by pulsation of subpapillary arteriolar and venous plexuses and is sometimes seen in aortic insufficiency, although it may occur in normal persons under certain conditions. Called also capillary pulse (because it was formerly thought to be due to pulsations in the capillaries) and Quincke's sign.
radial pulse that felt over the radial artery at the wrist.
Riegel's pulse one that is diminished during respiration.
slow pulse one with less than the usual number of pulsations per minute; called also vagus pulse and pulsus tardus.
thready pulse one that is very fine and scarcely perceptible.
tricrotic pulse one in which the tracing shows three marked expansions in one beat of the artery.
trigeminal pulse one with a pause after every third beat.
vagus pulse slow pulse.
venous pulse the pulsation over a vein, especially over the right jugular vein.
water-hammer pulse Corrigan's pulse.
wiry pulse a small, tense pulse.
pulse (pls) (puls),
n the rhythmic expansion and contraction of arteries resulting from the surges of blood through the arteries. The pulse can be felt by the fingers in arteries that are close to the skin.
pulse, arterial,
n the pulsation of an artery produced by the rise and fall in blood pressure as the heart goes into systole and diastole and observed clinically by palpation of the radial artery. The pulse rate at birth is approximately 130 beats/min and diminishes to approximately 70 beats/min in the healthy adult. The range of normalcy is around 60 to 80 beats/min.
pulse, brachial
n the rhythmic expansion and contraction of the artery located at the inside of the arm at the elbow.
pulse, carotid
n the rhythmic expansion and contraction of the carotid arteries. The carotid pulse can be measured from palpation of the carotid artery on either side of the neck.
pulse pressure,
n See pressure, pulse.
pulse, venous,
n pulsation of a vein, most easily felt in the right jugular vein.
pulse
1. a rhythmic wave.
2. any leguminous seed used in animal feed or human food. Contain about 20% protein.
3. the beat of the heart as felt through the walls of arteries. What is felt is not the blood pulsing through the arteries but a shock wave, generated by the abrupt ejection of blood from the heart, that travels along the arteries. The arterial pulse wave can be measured by a sphygmograph. The resulting tracing shows ascending and descending limbs. 
)
Palpating facial artery pulse in a horse. By permission from Darke P, Kelly DF, Bonagura JD, Color Atlas of Veterinary Cardiology, Mosby, 1995
abdominal pulse
that over the abdominal aorta.
pulse abnormality
includes irregularity of timing and amplitude, large or small amplitude, waterhammer pulse, Corrigan's pulse, dropped pulse, pulse deficit, alternating pulse and many others.
alternating pulse
pulsus alternans; one with regular alteration of weak and strong beats without changes in cycle length.
pulse amplitude
indicative of arterial blood pressure; estimated on the difference of pressure exerted by the fingers to occlude and then reopen the arterial pulse.
anacrotic pulse
one in which the ascending limb of the tracing shows a transient drop in amplitude, or a notch.
anadicrotic pulse
one in which the ascending limb of the tracing shows two small additional waves or notches.
anatricrotic pulse
one in which the ascending limb of the tracing shows three small additional waves or notches.
arterial pulse
the wave of pressure generated by the ejection of blood from the left ventricle into the aorta. Although the size (amplitude) of the pulse depends on the volume ejected it is not the blood passing the finger that is palpated, it is only the pressure wave. The pulse is a good indicator of the heart's activity with respect to amplitude, rate and regularity. It may also provide information on the state of the vessel walls and the efficiency of the aortic semilunar valves. It may be palpated in the median, facial, femoral or coccygeal arteries, the preferred site varying with the species and the occasion.
atrial venous pulse
atriovenous pulse, a cervical pulse having an accentuated 'a' wave during atrial systole, owing to increased force of contraction of the right atrium; a characteristic of tricuspid stenosis.
B-B shot pulse
see water-hammer pulse (below).
bigeminal pulse
one in which two beats occur in rapid succession, the groups of two being separated by a longer interval, usually related to regularly occurring ventricular premature beats.
catadicrotic pulse
see catadicrotism.
catatricrotic pulse
see catatricrotism.
pulse-chase experiment
to study the movement of macromolecules, cells are incubated with a radiolabeled precursor (pulse) and then replaced with unlabeled precursor (chase). The label can be followed as it is incorporated into newly synthesized compounds and through different cellular compartments.
Corrigan's pulse
see corrigan's pulse.
pulse deficit
the difference between the apical pulse and the radial pulse. Obtained by counting apical beats as heard through a stethoscope over the heart and counting the arterial pulse at the same time. A characteristic of several arrhythmias.
dicrotic pulse
a pulse characterized by two peaks, the second peak occurring in diastole and being an exaggeration of the dicrotic wave.
pulse dosing
the administration of drugs, usually antibiotics or corticosteroids, in a single, large dose which might be repeated after an interval of days. Thought to have the advantage of high tissue levels and fewer of the undesirable side-effects associated with more frequent dosing.
dropped pulse
arrhythmic pulse.
femoral pulse
that which is located at the site where the femoral artery passes through the groin in the femoral triangle; the usual site for palpating the pulse in dogs and cats.
fetal pulse detector
an ultrasound detector based on the Doppler principle used to detect the presence of a living fetus in utero.
funic pulse
the arterial tide in the umbilical cord.
pulse generator
the power source for a cardiac pacemaker system, usually powered by a lithium battery. It supplies electrical impulses to the implanted electrodes. See also pacemaker.
hard pulse
one characterized by high tension.
jerky pulse
see water-hammer pulse (below).
jugular pulse
comprises the movements of the wall of the jugular vein in response to pressure changes in the right atrium. Much more visible if the vein is distended. A reflection of increased pressure in the right atrium or insufficiency of the right A-V valve. A small pulse is normal in most food animals. A large pulse which goes high up the neck when the head is in the normal position, and which is synchronous with the heart cycle and is systolic in time, indicates insufficiency of the right atrioventricular valve.
pulse monitor
a pulse detector which uses the Doppler principle.
paradoxical pulse
one that markedly decreases in amplitude during inspiration.
peripheral pulse
that palpable in the extremities, e.g. legs, neck and head; the usual sites for measuring the pulse rate.
pistol-shot pulse
one in which the arteries are subject to sudden distention and collapse.
pulse pressure
the difference between the systolic and diastolic pressures.
radial pulse
that felt over the radial artery.
pulse rate
the number of pulsations per minute palpable in an artery, usually of a limb. The normal rates per minute for the common domestic animal species are: horses, 30 to 40; young horses up to one year of age, 70 to 80; cattle, 60 to 80; young calves, 100 to 120; sheep and goats, 70 to 120; pigs (heart rate), 60 to 70; dogs, 100 to 130; cats, 110 to 140; adult fowls 250 to 300.
pulse rhythm
regularity of the pulse in time and amplitude.
thready pulse
one that is very fine and barely perceptible.
pulse tracing
see sphygmogram.
tricrotic pulse
see tricrotism.
trigeminal pulse
one with a pause after every third beat.
undulating pulse
one giving the sensation of successive waves.
vagus pulse
a slow pulse.
venous pulse
the pulsation over a vein.
water-hammer pulse
one in which the artery is suddenly and markedly distended and relaxed. Characteristic of patent ductus arteriosus. Called also Corrigan's, jerky and B-B shot pulse.
wiry pulse
a small, tense pulse.
pulse
Cardiology The rhythmic expansion of a blood vessel, which for certain large arteries can be evaluated clinically using the fingers or stethoscope; the 'ritual' of taking the Pt's pulse provides information about the
heart rate, and a marked ↓ in the strength of the pulse suggests severe atherosclerosis, ↓ pumping activity by the heart, or vascular defects in the form of AV shunts or fistulas. See Bisferiens pulse, Corrigan's pulse, Dorsalis
pedis pulse, Femoral pulse, Paradoxic pulse, Pistol shot pulse, Quincke's pulse, Radiofrequency pulse, Water hammer pulse. Cf Pulse diagnosis Nuclear medicine 1. A brief exposure to a radioisotope, in order to label a substance and follow
its path through a metabolic labyrinth 2. A discharge of electric current produced by radionuclides in an ionization chamber or scintillation counter
Patient discussion about pulse.
Q. What is considered a slow heartbeat? I am a 30 year old woman and I went for a routine checkup at my Doctor's. He checked my pulse and it was 52 beats per minute. Is this considered slow? All my family members have a faster beat of 65- 90 beats per minute. If it is slow, is it bad?
A. A slow heartbeat is called bradycardia and is defined as a heart rate that is slower than healthy levels. In most adults, the heart beats at least 60 times per minute. This normal heartbeat range is usually 60 to 100 beats per minute in adults, slightly faster in children, and somewhat slower in trained athletes. If you tend to workout a lot and are physically fit then this is probably a healthy pulse. When the heart beats lower than the healthy range, the body may not get all the blood it needs to work correctly but only a profesional can determine if this is the case.
Q. Would anybody be interested in a workshop in holistic pulsing. Benefits are wide spread for many conditions Holistic pulsing is a simple technique that has many benefits for a wide variety of problems. What is nice about the technique is that it is easy and fast to learn. I have helped people with headaches, back problems, breathing problems, assisted in relieving pain for people with severe cancer etc. Would like to put together some workshops for anybody interested in learning. Good for nurses, bodywork people and any lay person that wants to benefit family and friends. You can look it up on the internet or contact me with any questions. Etan
A. Will these workshops be held someplace or on-line?
Where do you practice your technique?
Where do you practice your technique?
Q. my wife feels weak. her pulse is only 45. What should we do
A. Is her pulse always that low? Is it regular? Does she have periods of rapid pulse?
Is she sensitive to cold weather (e.g. wearing warm clothes when others don't)? Has she gained weight recently?
Has her hair changed? Does she have any heart diseases? Diabetes?
The combination of slow pulse and weakness in a woman (what's her age?) may suggests hypothyroidism. In this case, than she needs to see a doctor in order to diagnose and treat this condition.
You ma read more about it here:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000353.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/MEDLINEPLUS/ency/imagepages/18033.htm
Read more or ask a question about pulseIs she sensitive to cold weather (e.g. wearing warm clothes when others don't)? Has she gained weight recently?
Has her hair changed? Does she have any heart diseases? Diabetes?
The combination of slow pulse and weakness in a woman (what's her age?) may suggests hypothyroidism. In this case, than she needs to see a doctor in order to diagnose and treat this condition.
You ma read more about it here:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000353.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/MEDLINEPLUS/ency/imagepages/18033.htm
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