Which pairing is correct about pulse location and the minimum systolic pressure it indicates?

• A. Carotid pulse – 60 mmHg
• B. Radial pulse – 70 mmHg
• C. Femoral pulse – 80 mmHg
• D. Carotid pulse – 80 mmHg

Answer: (A)

Different arteries require different systolic pressures to feel a pulse. The carotid, being closest to the heart, can be palpated even when the systolic pressure is quite low—around 60 mmHg. Peripheral sites like the radial artery need a higher pressure to be felt, typically about 80 mmHg, and the femoral pulse is detectable at roughly 70 mmHg. So pairing the carotid pulse with 60 mmHg aligns with the established idea that central pulses are palpable at lower pressures than peripheral ones. The other options don’t fit these typical thresholds: a radial pulse at 70 mmHg would be earlier than expected, a femoral pulse at 80 mmHg is higher than usual for that site, and a carotid at 80 mmHg doesn’t reflect the minimum detectable pressure for that location.