Final answer:
Lower extremity blood pressure cuffs are used to measure blood pressure in the thigh or calf. These measurements are important for diagnosing conditions like peripheral arterial disease. Pressures may be higher in the lower extremities due to gravity and are measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
Step-by-step explanation:
The two blood pressure cuffs for the lower extremity are typically used for different purposes. For routine blood pressure measurements, an inflatable cuff is often placed on the upper arm, aligned with the heart. However, cuffs can also be placed elsewhere on the body, such as the thigh or calf, to measure blood pressure in those areas. These measurements can be particularly important in diagnosing and managing conditions such as peripheral arterial disease.
When measuring blood pressure in the lower extremities, the same principles apply as with arm measurements. Pressure is applied via the cuff to temporarily cut off blood flow, and then as the pressure is released, the point at which blood flow resumes is used to determine the systolic and diastolic pressures. It's important to consider that blood pressure readings taken at the lower extremity may be naturally higher due to the effects of gravity and distance from the heart. Units are comparable to those used during upper extremity measurements and are typically recorded in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), using devices such as a mercury manometer or digital measuring devices. Suppose a person's blood pressure at the level of the heart is 120 over 80 mm Hg, if measured at the leg, the pressure values would be adjusted for the added hydrostatic pressure because the leg is below the level of the heart.