The instrument that monitors blood pressure.
2006-11-14 07:42:37 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
A sphygmomanometer (note spelling) works by completely cutting off the blood flow with high pressure, and then gradually decreasing that pressure until blood flows again. The nurse determines this by listening with a stethoscope. When she first hears blood begin to flow with a loud sound, that is the systolic blood pressure. When the sound is no longer heard, that is the diastolic blood pressure. So the cuff just reports how much pressure it is applying. The nurse has to determine at what point the body responds.
2006-11-14 07:52:04 · answer #1 · answered by DavidK93 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The cuff tightens to cut off arterial circulation. Then, the pressure is released, and when the sound of pulse starts that is systolic pressure. When it changes softer that is another phase and finally when you can not longer hear it, that is diastolic.
2006-11-14 08:01:54 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋