In medicine, a person's pulse is the throbbing of their arteries as an effect of the heart beat. It can be felt at the neck, at the wrist and other places.

The pulse results from pressure waves moving through the blood vessels, which are pliable; it is not caused by the forward movement of the blood. When the heart contracts, blood is ejected into the aorta and the aorta stretches. At this point the wave of distention (pulse wave) is most pronounced, but relatively slow-moving (3 to 5 m/s). As it travels towards the peripheral blood vessels, it gradually diminishes and becomes faster. In the large arterial branches, its velocity is 7 to 10 m/s; in the small arteries, it is 15 to 35 m/s. The pressure pulse is 15 or more times more rapidly transmitted than the blood flow.

The term pulse is also used, although incorrectly, to denote the frequency of the heart beat, usually measured in beats per minute. In most people, the pulse is an accurate measure of heart rate. Under certain circumstances, including arrhythmias, some of the heart beats are ineffective and the aorta is not stretched enough to create a palpable pressure wave. The pulse is irregular and the heart rate can be (much) higher than the pulse rate. In this case, the heart rate should be determined by auscultation of the heart apex, in which case it is not the pulse. The pulse deficit (difference between heart beats and pulsations at the periphery) should be determined by simultaneous palpation at the radial artery and auscultation at the heart apex.

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@RuthLorenzo1 where are you in cardiff on Friday? I have seen you twice at pulse now, and I want to see you perform again!! :)
TimAppleford (Timothy Appleford) Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:32:47 -0000
@RuthLorenzo1 where are you in cardiff on Friday? I have seen you twice at pulse now, and I want to see you perform again!! :)
RT @bobharrell: RT @ideaworksHC iPhone stethoscope takes the pulse of mobile health apps http://bit.ly/6p4Rpp
nacinovich (nacinovich) Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:32:19 -0000
RT @bobharrell: RT @ideaworksHC iPhone stethoscope takes the pulse of mobile health apps http://bit.ly/6p4Rpp
@Bad_Lash_Vickie doesnt say nout on her website :S it doesnt say anything on oceana, pulse, tiger tiger or anything :S
SabrinaNorris (Sabrina Norris ♥) Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:31:28 -0000
@Bad_Lash_Vickie doesnt say nout on her website :S it doesnt say anything on oceana, pulse, tiger tiger or anything :S
Why do I have to get so excited all the damn time to make my pulse 111.. Couldn't give blood.. =[
Ally7717 (Allyson Hopkins) Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:29:22 -0000
Why do I have to get so excited all the damn time to make my pulse 111.. Couldn't give blood.. =[
@jesuspoet You don't need the practice test. So long as you have a pulse you'll do fine on the test.
gamingwithbaby (Will) Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:27:39 -0000
@jesuspoet You don't need the practice test. So long as you have a pulse you'll do fine on the test.
@MANDA_boo do it at pulse
oscarmorenojr (OMJ) Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:21:03 -0000
@MANDA_boo do it at pulse

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