When recording blood pressure using Sphygmomanometer, the sounds which can be heard with a stethoscope placed over the artery is termed as:

Appeared in: GMCH Nursing Officer-2025

Explanation

Korotkoff sounds are the specific, low-pitched sounds produced by the turbulent flow of blood in an artery that has been partially occluded by a blood pressure cuff.
The first Korotkoff sound (Phase I) signifies the systolic blood pressure (the peak pressure during a heartbeat).
The disappearance of the sounds (Phase V) signifies the diastolic blood pressure (the minimum pressure between heartbeats) in adults.
These sounds are fundamental to the auscultatory method of blood pressure measurement, a core nursing skill.

Option A: Wheezes are continuous, high-pitched whistling sounds related to respiration, not blood flow in an artery.
Option B: Murmurs are sounds generated by turbulent blood flow within the heart, typically due to faulty valves. They are auscultated over the precordium (chest wall over the heart).
Option C: Crackle sounds (or rales) are discontinuous, popping sounds heard in the lungs, indicating fluid or mucus in the airways or alveoli.

Visual 1: Infographic - The Five Phases of Korotkoff Sounds. This visual should depict the five phases with their corresponding sound descriptions and link them to the falling pressure on a sphygmomanometer gauge.
Visual 2: Diagram - Correct Placement of BP Cuff and Stethoscope. This diagram should show the brachial artery and the proper positioning of the cuff and the stethoscope bell/diaphragm for an accurate reading.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Identification of sounds heard during blood pressure measurement helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Accurate identification of Korotkoff sounds is critical for diagnosing and managing hypertension, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Nurses must be aware of the 'auscultatory gap'—a temporary disappearance of sounds between Phase I and Phase II—which can lead to an underestimation of systolic pressure if the cuff is not inflated high enough.
What if? If Korotkoff sounds are very faint or inaudible (e.g., in a patient with severe hypotension or shock), the nurse should not guess the reading. Instead, they should use an alternative method, such as a Doppler ultrasound device to detect systolic pressure or switch to an automated oscillometric machine.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question. It asks for the specific name of the sounds heard when taking blood pressure with a cuff and stethoscope.
Analyze the options provided. Think about where and when you would hear each type of sound.
Eliminate options that are clearly related to other body systems. 'Wheeze' and 'Crackle sounds' are classic respiratory (lung) sounds.
Eliminate the option related to the heart itself. 'Murmurs' are sounds of turbulent blood flow within the heart, not a peripheral artery.
By elimination, 'Korotkoff sounds' remains. Recall that this is the specific medical term for the sounds auscultated during blood pressure measurement.
Confirming this recall solidifies the answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Identification of sounds heard during blood pressure measurement.
Stem keywords: blood pressure, Sphygmomanometer, stethoscope, sounds heard over artery
Lead-in keywords: termed as

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Practise the full GMCH Nursing Officer-2025

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.