Final answer:
The radial artery is the most common site for measuring pulse in adults and children over three years old, with the common carotid artery being another option. Pulse detection involves feeling the pressure changes in an artery as blood is pumped by the heart.
Step-by-step explanation:
When obtaining a pulse measurement in adults and children over 3, the most commonly used artery is the radial artery located at the wrist. Alternatively, the common carotid artery in the neck can also be used for this purpose. Pulse measurement involves the manual palpation of an artery close to the body surface to detect the arterial pressure of blood during ventricular contraction and relaxation, known as systolic and diastolic pressures, respectively. Apart from the radial and carotid arteries, other accessible sites for finding a pulse include the temporal, facial, brachial, femoral, popliteal, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis arteries.
Although electronic devices are available to measure pulse, the traditional manual method using the fingertips across either the radial or common carotid artery is preferred for its simplicity and accessibility. During this procedure, health care providers feel for the pressure changes and flow that is transmitted through the arterial walls as blood is pumped by the heart. This is why veins, which transport blood back to the heart at a lower pressure, are not used for pulse measurement.