Pulse

A pulse is a wave of expansion and recoil occurring in an artery in response to the pumping action of the heart.

The average pulse rate of adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute.

The pulse rate quantifies the number of times the heart beats in one minute.

The formation and progression of the pulse begin when the sinoatrial, or SA, node—the heart's pacemaker, creates electrical impulses leading to the contraction of the ventricles.

Then, the left ventricle pumps a wave of blood into the aorta. This wave is the stroke volume or SV.

The blood flow in an artery leaves a throbbing sensation or pulse that can be felt by compressing the artery against a bony or firm structure.

The amount of blood the heart pumps through systemic circulation in one minute is known as the cardiac output or CO.

The cardiac output can be determined by multiplying the stroke volume and the heart rate.