Pressure pulse

In medicine, the term pressure pulse describes a slow but powerful pulse that is accompanied by an increase in blood pressure . It is a possible symptom of a rapid increase in intracranial pressure , for example due to a tumor , meningitis , cerebral edema or cerebral haemorrhage .

In medicine, the term also refers to the graphical recording of the course of blood pressure during sys- tem and diastole . The pressure pulse is slower in the aorta and has lower values ​​than in the periphery, since the vessels here are narrower and less elastic. In addition, the pressure waves are reflected on the branching vessels and on the sphincter vessels . These then pull practically in the direction of the heart and add to the next pressure wave, which increases it. In addition, the reflected wave is reflected again and thereby generates a weakened two-beat (dicrotic) pulse wave. This means that people have a greater blood pressure amplitude in their legs or feet even when they are lying down. On the heart, in the pressure pulse curve, you can see an incision, which is triggered by a slight backflow of blood against the aortic valve and which is closed again when it closes.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ J. Bengel: Pocket Atlas Emergency & Rescue Medicine: Compendium for the emergency doctor. Springer, 2006, ISBN 3-540-29565-8 , p. 254, (online)
2. ↑ J. Behrends: Physiology. Thieme Verlag, 2009, ISBN 978-3-13-138411-9 , p. 124, (online)

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !