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A carotid pulse can be palpated for one minute.

Options:
a) True
b) False

User Rahiem
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Final answer:

The statement that a carotid pulse can be palpated for one minute is true, as pulse palpation involves feeling the rhythmic blood flow in the arteries and is an accurate way to measure heart rate. The left and right common carotid arteries originate differently, and systemic blood pressure needs to remain above a certain threshold for proper filtration.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that a carotid pulse can be palpated for one minute is true. When you palpate a pulse, you are detecting the rhythmic pressure fluctuations that occur in the arteries with each heartbeat. The common carotid artery, located in the neck, is one of the easily accessible arteries where one can palpate a pulse. Additionally, when measuring the pulse, you are assessing the heart rate, which is traditionally counted for a full minute to obtain an accurate measurement of beats per minute. This practice is peripherally related to the concept of pulse waves, such as the ripple effect created when a pebble is dropped in water, though the latter represents a physical wave phenomenon rather than the physiological pulsations felt in the arteries.

During an examination of pulse rate, one would typically feel the beat of the heart as it pumps blood through the arteries. Measuring for shorter periods, like 10 seconds, and then multiplying by 6 can provide an estimate of the heart rate per minute as well. Furthermore, contrary to the mentioned statement, the left and right common carotid arteries do not both branch off of the brachiocephalic trunk; only the right common carotid artery does, while the left arises directly from the aortic arch. Additionally, systemic blood pressure must indeed stay above a certain threshold to ensure proper filtration, suggesting that the statement regarding a required systemic blood pressure above 60 is true.

User Jeff Day
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