Cuff systolic pressure is reached when the cuff pressure is raised above that of the artery, causing

Cuff systolic pressure is reached when the cuff pressure is raised above that of the artery, causing

• A. The artery collapses and the pulse disappears
• B. The artery dilates and pulse increases
• C. The diastolic pressure equalizes
• D. The blood flow becomes laminar

Answer: (A)

When the cuff pressure is raised above the artery’s systolic pressure, the external pressure collapses the artery and stops blood flow beyond the cuff. With the artery occluded, the distal pulse cannot be felt, so the pulse effectively disappears. That disappearance marks the cuff pressure at which systolic pressure is reached. The other ideas don’t fit: the artery wouldn’t dilate or increase the pulse under compression; diastolic pressure wouldn’t be set by equalizing in this situation; and flow wouldn’t be laminar because the flow is halted by the occlusion, not smooth and unobstructed.

When the cuff pressure is raised above the artery’s systolic pressure, the external pressure collapses the artery and stops blood flow beyond the cuff. With the artery occluded, the distal pulse cannot be felt, so the pulse effectively disappears. That disappearance marks the cuff pressure at which systolic pressure is reached. The other ideas don’t fit: the artery wouldn’t dilate or increase the pulse under compression; diastolic pressure wouldn’t be set by equalizing in this situation; and flow wouldn’t be laminar because the flow is halted by the occlusion, not smooth and unobstructed.