Question

A sphygmomanometer cuff applies pressure to the brachial artery, and a stethoscope detects sounds of blood flow as the heart contracts and relaxes. when the "tapping" sound is _______ through the stethoscope, the ventricles are relaxed at this lower_______ pressure reading (when the heart is filling up with blood).

A) Loudest, Diastolic
B) Softest, Diastolic
C) Loudest, Systolic
D) Softest, Systolic

Answer 1

A sphygmomanometer cuff applies pressure to the brachial artery, and a stethoscope detects sounds of blood flow as the heart contracts and relaxes. when the "tapping" sound is Softest through the stethoscope, the ventricles are relaxed at this lower Diastolic pressure reading (when the heart is filling up with blood) (option B).

Step-by-step explanation:

The device used to measure blood pressure, the sphygmomanometer, involves inflating a cuff around the upper arm to apply pressure to the brachial artery. A stethoscope is used to detect the sounds of blood flow as the cuff's pressure is gradually reduced. According to the information provided and the medical understanding of blood pressure measurements, when the 'tapping' sound disappears, it indicates that the ventricles of the heart are relaxed, and this corresponds to the lower diastolic pressure reading, which occurs when the heart is filling up with blood. Therefore, the correct answer is B) Softest, Diastolic.