Question

Describe the clinical measurement of pulse and blood pressure

  

Identify and discuss five variables affecting arterial blood flow and blood pressure

Discuss several factors affecting blood flow in the venous system

Answer 1

CLINICAL MEASUREMENT OF

1. PULSE

Pulse measures gives an insight to our heart rythm which will help to diagnose many heart problems .

Normal : 65-85 bpm

How to : The radial artery at the wrist is mainly used .

Keep your fingers over the pulsating artery on the wrist ,calm the individual and then count the pulse per minute

# The Ventricular contraction sends a wave of pulsation through the arteriolar system .Each heart contraction initiates a pulse wave .

2. BLOOD PRESSURE

Device : Sphygmomanometer

Steps : 1. The individual is asked to be seated in sitting position and give a calm situation to avoid fluctuating or false diagnosis .

2. The cuff is wrapped around the area above elbow maintaing heart level .

3. Rate of cuff delaftion is 2_3 mmHg per beat

4. In auscultation method , the blood pressure at the first korotkoff sound is considered as rhe systolic pressure. And the fifth sound is calculated as the diastolic pressure

The first sound is heard using stethoscope .

5. Measure atleast twice with suitable gap to avoid false results .

2 . VARIABLES AFFECTING THE ARTERIOLAR blood flow and pressure .

1. Cardiac output : It is directly proportional as any factors that increase it ,elevates the BP and blood flow .

Factors such as adrenaline , catecholamines , sympathetic stimulation thyroid hormones calcium levels and vice versa could decrease the cardiac output .

2. Blood viscosity : It is the thickness of the fluids that affect the flow . It is inversely proportional but the resistance is more . Hence there is a drop of BP and less flow .

3. Blood volume : It is directly proportional.

4. Blood vessel diamter : longer the blood vessel mximum is the resistance and lesser is the flow. The influence of dimater on the blood flow is important as a slight increase could result in drop of resistance and vice versa

5. Resistance : Greater the compliance of an artery more rhe expansion avoiding the resistance . Veins are more compliant than artieries .

2. Veins blood flow factors .

A . Presuure difference between artery and veins

Effect of posture : when standing in a supine position there is gravity pull which will increase the accumulation of blood in lower limbs . This is seen mainly in long standing jobs . This reduces the cradiac ouput and flow to the heart .

This is associated with the one direction flow of venous blood .

Venous return : it is facilitated by many factors such as inspiration , increased total blood volume ,increased venomotor tone , cardiac suction effect ,presence of venous valves and skeletal muscle pump .