The pulse is tactile sensation of blood coursing through the arterial system that corresponds to the rhythmic beating of the heart. The pulse reflects changing pressures within the arterial system due to changes caused by the cyclic pumping of blood by the heart. Pulse pressure is the calculated difference between the highest and lowest pressure arterial pressures.

The actual pressures in the arterial system are too small to be discerned by touch. The throbbing pulse sensation is actually caused by a shock wave emanating from the heart as it contracts. The shock wave travels trough the arterial system and is recorded as the pulse. The number of pulse sensations recorded in minute is termed the pulse rate. In many cases, pulse rate is determined by recording or counting pulsations for ten seconds and then multiplying the observed pulsations by six to determine...