What does "radial pulse" refer to?

The term "radial pulse" specifically refers to the pulse that can be felt at the wrist, where the radial artery is located. This artery runs along the thumb side of the forearm and is easily accessible for palpation. Assessing the radial pulse is a common practice in clinical settings as it provides important information about a person’s heart rate and rhythm.

In contrast, pulses found at the ankle, neck, or temple refer to different arteries. The pulse at the ankle is typically assessed at the posterior tibial or dorsalis pedis arteries, while the pulse at the neck is associated with the carotid artery, and the temple pulse is related to the superficial temporal artery. Each of these locations provides different clinical insights, but the radial pulse is uniquely identified with the wrist area.