pulse
Medical term Routine Blood Collections
The throb of an artery with each heartbeat. A pulse under the fingertip means an artery is there; do not puncture it for venipuncture.
Related terms
- arteryA vessel carrying blood away from the heart under high pressure. It pulses when palpated, which helps the…
- venipunctureEntering a vein with a needle to withdraw blood, usually at the antecubital area of the arm.
- povidone-iodineIodine antiseptic. Carried into a sample it may falsely raise potassium, phosphorus or uric acid, so alcohol…
- probingMoving the needle around blindly under the skin to find a missed vein; WHO advises avoiding it because it…
- prolonged bleedingBleeding at the puncture site past about 5 minutes; keep pressing, never bandage over active bleeding, and…
- pulmonary circulationBlood flow from the right ventricle through the lungs, where it picks up oxygen, and back to the left atrium.
- refluxBackflow of tube contents into the vein; keeping the arm angled downward while tubes fill prevents it.
- Rh factorRed-cell antigen tested with the ABO type: people who have it are Rh-positive; those who lack it are…
- rolling veinA vein that slides away from the needle; anchoring the skin taut below the site holds it in place.
- sclerosed veinA hardened, cordlike vein, often from damage or clotting; it does not spring back when pressed and is not…
Study Routine Blood Collections