Session 6: Pulse and Blood Pressure Measurement

Pulse Rate Measurement

• Pulse indicates the condition of blood vessel walls and reflects the state of the heart and circulation.
• Pulse is felt in superficial blood vessels, primarily the radial artery, but can also be assessed in the brachial, femoral, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis arteries.
• To check the radial pulse, use two or three fingers, avoiding the thumb, with the forearm pronated and wrist slightly flexed.
• Normal pulse rate for a healthy adult is approximately 72 beats per minute.
• Tachycardia is characterized by an increased pulse rate due to factors such as emotion, exercise, fever, or atrial fibrillation.
• Bradycardia describes a decreased pulse rate often linked to heart block.

Arterial Blood Pressure Measurement

• Blood pressure reflects the pressure against blood vessel walls, primarily measured in arteries.
• Blood pressure consists of systolic and diastolic measurements, recorded in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
• Systolic pressure measures the peak pressure during ventricular contraction as the heart pumps blood to the body.

Lung Volumes and Capacities

• Four lung volumes combine to total about 6000 ml: Residual volume (1000ml), Tidal volume (500ml), Inspiratory reserve volume (3000ml), Expiratory reserve volume (1500ml).
• Inspiratory capacity reflects the volume of air inhaled after normal tidal expiration and is approximately 3500 ml.

Chronic Pulmonary Diseases

• Two main types:
  • Obstructive pulmonary disorders (e.g., emphysema, asthma) involve airflow obstruction and increased airway resistance.
  • Restrictive pulmonary disorders (e.g., pulmonary fibrosis) result in reduced lung volumes and capacities.

Factors Influencing Lung Volumes

• Body size, age, sex, exercise, and posture all affect lung capacity measurements.
• Larger individuals generally have greater lung volumes.
• Lung volumes decrease in children and are typically smaller in females.
• Exercise can increase lung volumes, and vital capacity is greater in a sitting position compared to lying down.

Vision Mechanism and Tests

• The eye forms images through light refraction by the cornea and lens, focusing on the retina's rods and cones, which convert light into neural signals.
• Vision tests include checking visual acuity with a Snellen chart, measuring near point accommodation, and assessing for blind spot detection.
• Normal vision is marked as 20/20 on the Snellen chart; values below indicate myopia, and values above indicate better-than-normal vision.

Hearing and Equilibrium Tests

• Hearing assessments utilize tuning forks for the Weber and Rinne tests.
• The Weber test determines conductive versus sensorineural hearing loss by placing the tuning fork on the forehead and checking sound perception in each ear.
• The Rinne test compares bone versus air conduction of sound, evaluating hearing impairment through specific procedures.

Blind Spot Test

• The blind spot test utilizes the optic disc's absence of photoreceptors to observe where an image disappears when focused directly, with measurements recorded for both eyes.

Near Point Accommodation

• Near point distance increases with age, indicating changes in lens elasticity, with specific distances defined for age milestones, from approximately 7 cm at age 10 to 100 cm at age 60.

This quiz focuses on the measurement of pulse rate and arterial blood pressure, emphasizing the significance of these metrics in assessing heart and circulatory health. Participants will explore the methods of pulse examination and understand the physiological implications of pulse variations. Test your knowledge on the vital signs critical for cardiovascular assessment.