Pulse Sites

Temporal: is superior (above) and lateral to (away from the midline of) the eye

1. Carotid: at the side of the neck below tube of the ear (where the carotid artery runs between the trachea and the sternoclidiomastoid muscle)

2. Temporal: the pulse is taken at temporal bone area.

3. Apical: at the apex of the heart: routinely used for infant and children < 3 yrs

In adults – Left midclavicular line under the 4th, 5th, 6th intercostals space
Children < 4 yrs of the Lt. mid clavicular line

4. Brachial: at the inner aspect of the biceps muscle of the arm or medially in the antecubital space (elbow crease)

5. Radial: on the thumb side of the inner aspect of the wrist – readily available and routinely used

6. Femoral: along the inguinal ligament. Used or infants and children

7. Popiliteal: behind the knee. By flexing the knee slightly

8. Posterior tibial: on the medial surface of the ankle

9. Pedal (Dorslais Pedis): palpated by feeling the dorsum (upper surface) of the foot on an imaginary line drawn from the middle of the ankle to the surface between the big and 2nd toes