The carotid pulse is located in the neck and has a typical bpm range. Which option matches?

The carotid pulse is located in the neck and has a typical bpm range. Which option matches?

• A. Wrist 60-100 bpm
• B. Neck 60-100 bpm
• C. Inner thigh 70 bpm
• D. Feet 90 bpm

Answer: (B)

The carotid pulse is located in the neck, beside the trachea and medial to the sternocleidomastoid. The normal resting heart rate for a healthy adult is about 60 to 100 beats per minute. So, describing the pulse as being in the neck with a rate in that 60–100 range matches the carotid and its typical resting rate. The other sites (wrist, inner thigh, feet) refer to different pulses and aren’t describing the carotid. When checking the carotid, use gentle pressure and check one side at a time to avoid triggering a vagal response.

The carotid pulse is located in the neck, beside the trachea and medial to the sternocleidomastoid. The normal resting heart rate for a healthy adult is about 60 to 100 beats per minute. So, describing the pulse as being in the neck with a rate in that 60–100 range matches the carotid and its typical resting rate. The other sites (wrist, inner thigh, feet) refer to different pulses and aren’t describing the carotid. When checking the carotid, use gentle pressure and check one side at a time to avoid triggering a vagal response.