The difference between apical and peripheral pulses is called what?

The difference between apical and peripheral pulses is called what?

• A. Inhalation
• B. Pulse deficit
• C. Orthostatic hypotension
• D. Hypertension

Answer: (B)

Pulse deficit describes the difference between the apical pulse and a peripheral pulse. The apical pulse is counted with a stethoscope over the heart’s apex, reflecting actual heartbeats, while a peripheral pulse (such as the radial pulse) measures the blood flow reaching a limb. If the apical rate is higher than the peripheral rate, some heartbeats don’t produce a detectable pulse at the periphery. This tends to occur with certain heart rhythm problems (like atrial fibrillation) or when the heart’s stroke volume is reduced. To assess it, count the apical pulse for a full minute and compare it with a peripheral pulse counted for a full minute; a positive difference indicates a deficit. The other options don’t describe this mismatch between heartbeats and peripheral pulse. Inhalation relates to breathing, orthostatic hypotension is a drop in blood pressure on standing, and hypertension is high blood pressure.

Pulse deficit describes the difference between the apical pulse and a peripheral pulse. The apical pulse is counted with a stethoscope over the heart’s apex, reflecting actual heartbeats, while a peripheral pulse (such as the radial pulse) measures the blood flow reaching a limb. If the apical rate is higher than the peripheral rate, some heartbeats don’t produce a detectable pulse at the periphery. This tends to occur with certain heart rhythm problems (like atrial fibrillation) or when the heart’s stroke volume is reduced. To assess it, count the apical pulse for a full minute and compare it with a peripheral pulse counted for a full minute; a positive difference indicates a deficit. The other options don’t describe this mismatch between heartbeats and peripheral pulse. Inhalation relates to breathing, orthostatic hypotension is a drop in blood pressure on standing, and hypertension is high blood pressure.