Where do you find popliteal pulses?
Where do you find popliteal pulses?
Wrap your hand around your knee so your fingers are against the soft spot in the back of your knee. Slowly press your fingers into this soft spot until you can feel your pulse. It should feel like a steady pulse once or twice per second. This is your popliteal pulse.
Where are the pulse points?
The pulse is readily distinguished at the following locations: (1) at the point in the wrist where the radial artery approaches the surface; (2) at the side of the lower jaw where the external maxillary (facial) artery crosses it; (3) at the temple above and to the outer side of the eye, where the temporal artery is …
Can you feel your own popliteal pulse?
This article has been viewed 51,969 times. The popliteal pulse, located at the back of the knee (popliteal artery), is the most challenging pulse to find in the body. It’s also very unlikely that you’ll be able to feel your own popliteal pulse, so if you are looking to check your own, have a friend help you out.
What is the popliteal height of a person?
For someone seated, the popliteal height is the distance from the underside of the foot to the underside of the thigh at the knees. It is sometimes called the “stool height”. (The term “sitting height” is reserved for the height to the top of the head when seated.).
What’s the best way to palpate a popliteal pulse?
The popliteal is best palpated with the patient prone (face down on stomach) and the knee flexed, again use the “crease” inside the knee as a reference and walk your fingers slowly from the outside in. You also need more pressure palpating for this artery. I agree, this can be the hardest pulse to find.
Where is the popliteal pulse point in the knee?
When assessing the pulse, you want to determine the pulse rate, pulse strength, and the pulse rhythm. The popliteal pulse point comes from the femoral artery, and you will find this pulse point on the back of the knee. It is located around the middle of the popliteal fossa (the pit that forms on the back of the leg).
Can you feel a pulse in the popliteal fossa?
Sometimes you may have to press very deep into the popliteal fossa to feel the pulse. Some people have a lot of tissue on the back of their knee. Note if you feel any other masses or weakened areas of tissue, such as a potential aneurysm.
Where does the pulse come from in the leg?
The pulse here is from blood flow to the popliteal artery, a vital blood supply to the lower leg. Several medical conditions can affect blood flow to and from the popliteal pulse. For this reason, you or your doctor may need to be able to feel it. Where is it?
The popliteal is best palpated with the patient prone (face down on stomach) and the knee flexed, again use the “crease” inside the knee as a reference and walk your fingers slowly from the outside in. You also need more pressure palpating for this artery. I agree, this can be the hardest pulse to find.
Where is the popliteal pulse located in the knee?
The popliteal pulse can be felt behind the knee, toward the lateral aspect of the popliteal fossa. Often, the popliteal pulse is obscured by the gastrocnemius muscle. This means that it is not uncommon to need to press deeply between the gastrocnemius
Sometimes you may have to press very deep into the popliteal fossa to feel the pulse. Some people have a lot of tissue on the back of their knee. Note if you feel any other masses or weakened areas of tissue, such as a potential aneurysm.
What causes a widening of the popliteal artery?
The popliteal pulse is often more difficult to find than other pulses. It is deeper and feels more diffuse. An exaggerated, widened popliteal pulse suggests an aneurysm of the popliteal artery. Neither popliteal nor femoral aneurysms are common. They are usually due to atherosclerosis, and occur primarily in men over age 50.