Final answer:
A sphygmomanometer is a device used to measure pulse and blood pressure simultaneously. It consists of an inflatable cuff, manometer, and stethoscope. The cuff is wrapped around the upper arm and inflated to block blood flow, and then slowly released to detect the systolic and diastolic pressures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The method that uses a device to measure pulse and blood pressure simultaneously is called a sphygmomanometer. It consists of an inflatable cuff to restrict blood flow, a manometer to measure the pressure, and a method of determining when blood flow begins and when it becomes impeded. When using a sphygmomanometer, the cuff is placed around the upper arm and inflated until blood flow is completely blocked, then slowly released. As the heart beats, blood forced through the arteries causes a rise in pressure. This rise in pressure at which blood flow begins is the systolic pressure - the peak pressure in the cardiac cycle. When the cuff's pressure equals the arterial systolic pressure, blood flows past the cuff, creating audible sounds that can be heard using a stethoscope. This is followed by a decrease in pressure as the heart's ventricles prepare for another beat. As cuff pressure continues to decrease, eventually sound is no longer heard; this is the diastolic pressure - the lowest pressure (resting phase) in the cardiac cycle.