Final answer:
A sphygmomanometer is an instrument used to measure the pressure of the pulse, specifically the blood pressure, which includes a cuff to restrict blood flow and a manometer to measure pressure. Innovations have led to the creation of digital sphygmomanometers for easier use and readings displayed as systolic/diastolic pressures in mm Hg.
Step-by-step explanation:
The medical term for an instrument that measures the pressure of the pulse is sphygmomanometer. A sphygmomanometer consists of an inflatable cuff, a pressure meter or manometer, and sometimes a stethoscope, depending on the type. The cuff is wrapped around the upper arm and inflated to restrict blood flow; the manometer measures the pressure used to determine both systolic and diastolic pressures of the cardiac cycle, which are critical for assessing a patient's cardiovascular health. Over the years, innovations like digital sphygmomanometers, which provide a readout of blood pressure without the need for a stethoscope, have made it easier to obtain these measurements.
Digital sphygmomanometers display blood pressure in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), and this can be seen on the device's screen as two numbers, like 126/70, where the higher number represents the systolic pressure, and the lower number represents the diastolic pressure. Medical professionals may use one of many types of sphygmomanometers, including manual, mercury, mechanical, or digital, each having specific applications based on the required accuracy and training level of the user.