While measuring blood pressure in upper arm, the chest piece of stethoscope is placed over which of the following arteries?

Appeared in: OSSSC Nursing Officer-2021

Explanation

The brachial artery is the standard anatomical site for auscultating blood pressure when using the upper arm.
It is a continuation of the axillary artery and runs down the upper arm, becoming superficial in the antecubital fossa (crease of the elbow).
This accessible location, just medial to the biceps tendon, allows for the clear detection of Korotkoff sounds with a stethoscope.

Option A: The ulnar artery is located in the forearm, running along the medial side towards the wrist. It is not in the correct location for auscultating blood pressure taken on the upper arm.
Option B: The radial artery is located in the forearm, terminating at the wrist. It is the most common site for palpating a pulse, not for auscultating blood pressure from an upper arm cuff.
Option D: The axillary artery is a large artery located deep within the axilla (armpit). It is not superficial or accessible for routine placement of a stethoscope during blood pressure measurement.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Anatomical site for blood pressure auscultation helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Accurate placement of the stethoscope over the brachial artery is a fundamental nursing skill essential for obtaining a correct blood pressure reading, a key vital sign.
Incorrect placement can lead to muffled sounds and inaccurate readings (either falsely high or low), which may result in misdiagnosis or inappropriate medical treatment.
What if? If a patient has an IV line, an arteriovenous (AV) fistula for dialysis, or a recent mastectomy with lymph node removal on one arm, that arm should not be used for blood pressure measurement. The nurse must use the contralateral arm or an alternative site like the thigh (popliteal artery).

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key procedure in the question: measuring blood pressure in the upper arm.
Next, recall the standard anatomical landmarks for this procedure. The question asks where to place the stethoscope for auscultation.
Mentally review the major arteries of the arm: Axillary (armpit) -> Brachial (upper arm) -> Radial and Ulnar (forearm).
Evaluate each option based on its anatomical location. The stethoscope is placed in the crease of the elbow (antecubital fossa).
Eliminate the arteries that are not in this location: Radial and Ulnar are at the wrist, and Axillary is in the armpit.
Select the Brachial artery, as it is the vessel that passes through the antecubital fossa and is used for auscultation.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Anatomy BDChaurasia V1 10e p. 92-94

E6 Anatomy Applied Ashalatha 4e p. 175-177

E6 Anatomy MindMaps BDChaurasia V1 10e p. 3-5

Practise the full OSSSC Nursing Officer-2021

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