Pulse Rate

What is Pulse Rate?

Pulse rate is the number of pulses felt in an artery near the surface of the body in one minute. Each pulse is the stretch and recoil of the artery wall caused by a surge of blood as the left ventricle contracts, so pulse rate is normally used as an estimate of heart rate. It is measured by pressing two fingertips gently over an artery, counting the pulses for a measured time and converting the count to beats per minute.

This definition is part of the Transport in Humans chapter in Cambridge O Level Biology.

Concepts related to Pulse Rate

• Heart Rate
• Artery
• elastic recoil