Where should you place two or three fingers to locate the radial pulse?

• A. On the inside of the wrist below the thumb
• B. On the inner elbow
• C. On the neck beside the larynx
• D. On the top of the foot

Answer: (A)

Feeling the radial pulse is about locating the radial artery at the wrist. Place two or three fingers on the inside of the wrist, on the thumb side, right below the base of the thumb where the artery runs close to the skin. Use gentle pressure and avoid using your own thumb, which has its own pulse and can confuse what you feel. If you don’t feel a pulse right away, shift the fingers slightly toward the thumb or toward the little finger until you sense a steady beat. This spot is different from others: the neck beside the larynx is the carotid pulse, the inner elbow is the brachial pulse, and the top of the foot is the dorsalis pedis pulse.