Pulse Sound Activity

Heartbeat• Each heartbeat is

called a cardiac cycle: two atria contract then two ventricles contract (systole), and the entire heart relaxes (diastole)

• A normal heart beats 70 times per minute.

• Makes a “lub-dub” sound as the valves of the heart are opening and closing.

Lub Sound

• Caused by the shutting of the bicuspid valve and the tricuspid valve. This occurs when blood from the atrial chambers enter the ventricles.

Dub Sound

• Caused by the shutting of the aortic valve and the pulmonary valve. This occurs when the blood from the ventricles are pumped out into the lungs and the rest of the body.

Pulse

• When the heart beats, it sends a wave, or pulse, of blood through the arteries

• When checking the pulse, we look at the– Pulse rate– Pulse rhythm• Regular pulse is a rhythm that is evenly spaced between

pulsations • Irregular pulse rhythm is called dysrhythmia and is not evenly spaced

– Pulse amplitude (strong, bounding, and thready)

What Is a Pulse?

Pulse Points

• Physical activity (increases the body’s need for oxygen and nutrients)

• Anger and anxiety, illness, pain, fever, and excitement

• Certain medications

Factors Affecting Pulse

• Radial Pulse: Taken by placing fingers over the radial artery (inside of wrist)

• Watch this amazing video !!!

Measuring the Pulse

Radial Pulse Activity

• Locate the radial pulse• Count each pulsation over 30 seconds and

multiply that number by _______?• Why do we multiply by two?

• Apical Pulse: Taken by listening over the apex of the heart with a stethoscope for a full minute

Measuring the Pulse

Auscultating the apical pulse

• Place diaphragm of stethoscope behind 5th intercostal space

Pulse Deficit

• A condition in which a peripheral pulse rate is less than the ventricular contraction rate as auscultated at the apex of the heart. This indicates a lack of peripheral perfusion.

• Tachycardia is a rapid heart rate, or a pulse rate of more than 100 beats per minute for an adult

• A heart rate that is slower than normal, that is, a pulse rate of less than 60 beats per minute is called bradycardia .

Normal and Abnormal Findings

Figure 5-12 Conduction system of the heart

Pacemaker• Abnormal

heartbeats can be controlled by an artificial pacemaker that is run on batteries

Next Week…