How to feel the carotid artery?

There are many arteries distributed throughout the human body, including the very important carotid artery. It is worth mentioning that the carotid artery can develop many diseases, such as carotid stenosis. Severe cervical spine disease can cause the carotid artery to become narrow. In addition, there are carotid plaques, carotid artery sclerosis, and carotid aneurysm, etc. These diseases are very harmful. Many people do not know where the carotid artery is. Here we will teach you how to feel the carotid artery.

How to feel the carotid artery?

The right common carotid artery originates from the brachiocephalic trunk. The carotid arteries on both sides ascend along the outside of the esophagus, trachea and larynx, and divide into the internal carotid artery and the external carotid artery when they reach the thyroid cartilage. When you turn your neck, you will find an obvious muscle running from the ear to the sternum. This muscle is the sternocleidomastoid muscle. On the inner side of this muscle, you can clearly feel the pulsation of the carotid artery, and it is very easy to feel.

The left common carotid artery arises from the common aortic arch, and the right common carotid artery arises from the brachiocephalic trunk. The carotid arteries on both sides ascend along the outside of the esophagus, trachea and larynx, and divide into the internal carotid artery and the external carotid artery at the thyroid cartilage. When you turn your neck, you will find an obvious muscle running from the ear to the sternum. This muscle is the sternocleidomastoid muscle. On the inner side of this muscle, you can clearly feel the pulsation of the carotid artery. It is very easy to feel and you can feel the pulse by pressing it with your hand.

When judging the carotid artery pulse, slide the index and middle fingers horizontally from the Adam's apple toward the sternocleidomastoid muscle on one side until they are blocked. This is the carotid artery touch position. The touch must be completed within 10 seconds. If the pulse cannot be confirmed within 10 seconds, it is considered to be absent. And you should not use your thumb to touch the pulse to avoid the arterial pulsation in your finger affecting the touch perception.

Palpate the radial artery. The radial artery is easiest to feel on the thumb side of the wrist. The method is: the patient or yourself has the palm facing up, and uses the middle three fingertips of one hand (index finger, middle finger, and ring finger) to gently press on the radial artery to feel the artery beating. Under normal circumstances, it is sufficient to touch the radial artery. However, in shock, the cerebral artery pulsation is not obvious and is not easy to feel. At this time, it is necessary to touch the carotid artery. The method is: use the pads of the middle three fingers of one hand (index finger, middle finger, and ring finger) to gently press deep into the front edge of the sternocleidomastoid muscle to feel the arterial pulsation.