Where do you listen with a stethoscope to find the blood pressure when taking manual measurements?

• A. Antecubital fossa
• B. Carotid artery
• C. Wrist
• D. Groin

Answer: (A)

Manual blood pressure readings rely on auscultation of the brachial artery with a stethoscope placed over the artery as it runs in the antecubital fossa (the inner elbow) under the cuff. This position is ideal because the cuff compresses the brachial artery here, allowing clear Korotkoff sounds to be heard as the cuff is deflated. The first sound marks systolic pressure, and the point at which sounds disappear marks diastolic pressure.

Listening at the wrist would measure a different, peripheral pressure and is less reliable for this method. The carotid area or the groin isn’t used for routine upper-arm cuff readings because those sites don’t reflect the cuff pressure accurately and can introduce inaccuracies or unnecessary risk.