Part of Lesson Plan: Vital Signs

Activity Overview / Details

Areas of the body where the artery is closer to the surface of the skin. By pressing down on these areas,  you can feel a pulse and count how fast the heart is beating.

Display transparency - Pulse Sites

Go through common pulse sites:

• radial - thumb side of wrist, most commonly used
• brachial - used for obtaining pulse in infants; taking blood pressures
• apical - obtained by using a stethoscope and listening to the heart beat
• carotid - both sides of neck, used for CPR
• popliteal - behind the knee
• temporal
• femoral - deep inside the upper thigh
• pedal pulses - used to assess circulation in the lower extremities

Have students find the following pulse sites on their partner:                                                                    

radial

brachial

carotid

Assist students as needed.