During blood pressure measurement, the cuff should be inflated enough to collapse which artery?

• A. Radial
• B. Brachial
• C. Femoral
• D. Carotid

Answer: (B)

The proper technique for measuring blood pressure involves inflating the cuff to a pressure that occludes the brachial artery. This is important because the brachial artery is the vessel that is most commonly used to assess blood pressure in adults. Collapsing this artery allows for accurate detection of the sounds generated by blood flow as the cuff pressure is gradually released.

When the cuff is inflated beyond the systolic pressure, blood flow through the brachial artery is halted, and as the pressure in the cuff decreases, the first sound heard (Korotkoff sound) indicates the systolic blood pressure. The sounds continue until the artery is fully open, at which point the last sound marks the diastolic blood pressure. This method relies specifically on the brachial artery due to its anatomical position and accessibility for auscultation, which is why it is central to accurate blood pressure measurement.