MANUAL PHYSIOLOGY PRACTICAL - Repository:The Medical ...

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diastolic pressures, the artery closes when the pressure in the artery goes below the cuff
pressure and the blood flows through when the pressure in the artery goes above the
cuff pressure. The intermittent flow produces turbulence at the end of the cuff, which
produces a sound (Korotkoff sound).
Locate the brachial artery in the cubital fossa by feeling for the pulse. Inflate
the cuff to a pressure above the systolic pressure, measured by palpatory method. Place
the stethoscope gently on the brachial artery and reduce the pressure slowly. The
pressure at which the Korotkoff sound appears is the systolic pressure. Go on reducing
the pressure while listening. Suddenly at one point the sound becomes muffled and
when the pressure is lower lowered further the sound disappears.
There is a controversy as to the measurement of diastolic pressure. Some
doctors consider the muffing point as the diastolic pressure while others consider the
point of disappearance as the diastolic pressure. In this lab, the point of disappearance
will be considered as the diastolic pressure. Repeat the measurements three times and
record the lowest value. If you could not get the reading within two or three minutes,
release the cuff pressure and start all over again after few minutes.
PHASES OF THE KOROTKOFF SOUNDS
Phase 1 beginning of a sharp “Thud” --- Systolic pressure
Phase 2 a blowing or swishing sound
Phase 3 a softer thud than phase 1
Phase 4 a soft blowing sound [muffling] - - First diastolic pressure
Phase 5 silence -------------- Second diastolic pressure
Observations
Name (male) Palpatory Auscaltatory Name female) Palpatory Auscaltatory
SBP SBP DBP SBP SBP DBP
Circulation
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