Physical examination maneuver

Physical Exam

Radial Artery Palpation

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How to Perform

Place the pads of your index and middle fingers over the radial artery on the palmar-lateral aspect of the wrist, just medial to the distal radius and lateral to the flexor carpi radialis tendon. Press gently and assess the rate, rhythm, and strength/contour of the pulse.

How to Interpret

Showing 4 of 10 findings

Atrial Fibrillation

Irregularly irregular pulse
Rule in
Helpful
Rule out
Very helpful
Evidence:Moderate

Hypovolemia

Absent radial pulse
Rule in
Very helpfulDerived CI
Rule out
Not helpfulDerived CI
Evidence:Moderate
Weak (decreased) radial pulse
Rule in
Minimally helpfulDerived CI
Rule out
Minimally helpfulDerived CI
Evidence:Moderate

Shock

Bounding (full-volume) pulse
Rule in
Somewhat helpfulWide CI
Rule out
Somewhat helpfulWide CI
Evidence:Moderate

Related Bedside Tests

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Blood Pressure
Rule in:VHHypovolemia, VHMortality, VHStructural Brain Lesion +22 more
Rule out:VHCardiac Tamponade, VHHypovolemia, HLow Cardiac Output +22 more
🎬Video coming soon
Capillary Refill
aka Capillary refill time | CRT | Nail blanch test
Rule in:VHMortality, VHPostoperative Complication, HHypovolemia +8 more
Rule out:HMortality, SHPostoperative Complication, MHDehydration +8 more
Heart RateMembers
Sign in
Heart Rate
Rule in:SHAtrial Fibrillation, SHDecompensation, SHHypothyroidism +15 more
Rule out:HDecompensation, SHAtrial Fibrillation, SHPostoperative Complication +15 more
🎬Video coming soon
Jugular Venous Pressure
Rule in:VHShock, HRight Ventricular Infarction, SHElevated Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure +14 more
Rule out:HRight Ventricular Infarction, SHElevated Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure, SHPulmonary Hypertension +14 more
🎬Video coming soon
Orthostatic Blood Pressure
aka Orthostatic vital signs; postural vital signs
Rule in:VHAutonomic Neuropathy, VHHemorrhage, VHHypovolemia +6 more
Rule out:VHAutonomic Failure, VHHemorrhage, SHMultiple System Atrophy +6 more
Mouth and Tongue InspectionMembers
Sign in
Mouth and Tongue Inspection
Rule in:HHypoxemia, SHAnemia, SHHepatopulmonary Syndrome +16 more
Rule out:HHepatopulmonary Syndrome, SHHypovolemia, MHAnemia +16 more

Related Systems / Regions

CardiovascularUpper ExtremitiesWrist and Hand

Related Diagnoses

Aortic RegurgitationArrhythmiaAtrial FibrillationHeart BlockHyperthyroidismHypotensionHypothyroidismHypovolemiaIncreased Intracranial PressureMedication EffectSepsisShockSinus BradycardiaSinus TachycardiaValvular Heart DiseaseVentricular Tachycardia

Related Chief Complaints

Cold ExtremitiesConfusionDizziness on StandingFaintingFatigueLightheadednessLow Blood PressurePallorPalpitationsWeakness

References

Research in progress on one or more findings above; ratings may change.

  • Naylor JF, Fisher AD, April MD, Schauer SG. An analysis of radial pulse strength to recorded blood pressure in the Department of Defense Trauma Registry. Mil Med. 2020 Dec 30;185(11-12):e1903-e1907. doi:10.1093/milmed/usaa197. PMID: 32754740.
  • Wood P. An appreciation of mitral stenosis: I. Clinical features. Br Med J. 1954;1(4870):1051-1063. PMID: 13149899. PMC2093403 (free full text).
  • Levine AC, Barry MA, Gainey M, Nasrin S, Qu K, Schmid CH, Nelson EJ, Garbern SC, Monjory M, Rosen R, Alam NH. Derivation of the first clinical diagnostic models for dehydration severity in patients over five years with acute diarrhea. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021;15(3):e0009266. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0009266. PMID: 33690646. PMC7984611.
  • Garratt CJ, Griffith MJ, Young G, Curzen N, Brecker S, Rickards AF, Camm AJ. Value of physical signs in the diagnosis of ventricular tachycardia. Circulation. 1994;90(6):3103-3107. PMID: 7994860.
  • Vazquez R, Gheorghe C, Kaufman D, Manthous CA. Accuracy of bedside physical examination in distinguishing categories of shock: a pilot study. J Hosp Med. 2010;5(8):471-474. PMID: 20945471.
  • Taggar JS, Coleman T, Lewis S, Heneghan C, Jones M. Accuracy of methods for detecting an irregular pulse and suspected atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2016;23(12):1330-1338. PMID: 26464292.
  • McGee S, Abernethy WB 3rd, Simel DL. The rational clinical examination. Is this patient hypovolemic? JAMA. 1999;281(11):1022-1029. PMID: 10086438.
  • Choudhry NK, Etchells EE. The rational clinical examination. Does this patient have aortic regurgitation? JAMA. 1999;281(23):2231-2238. PMID: 10376577.
  • Bickley LS, Szilagyi PG, Hoffman RM, Soriano RP. Bates' Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer; 2021.
  • Swartz MH. Textbook of Physical Diagnosis: History and Examination. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025.

Research last updated September 10, 2026.