Radial Pulse Palpation

Medical skill data
Subskill of Blood Pressure Palpation
Circulation
Circulatory Motor Sensory Testing (CMS)
Primary Assessment
Pulse Points and Palpation
Trauma Patient Assessment
Acting roles EMR
EMT
emergency medical responder
emergency medical technician
paramedic
Body systems circulatory system
Body parts arm(s)
hands
radial artery
upper extremities

Radial Pulse

When palpating the radial pulse, you are feeling for the radial artery that comes close to the surface on the lateral side of the inner forearm just before the wrist. To obtain a radial pulse:

  1. Place the tips of two to three fingers, (usually your index, middle, and ring finger if you use three) just proximal to the patients wrist on the thumb side, orienting them so that they are both over the length of the vessel.
  2. Press your fingers in the groove between the lateral edge of the distal radius, and the wrist tendons, close to the wrist
  3. Lighten your pressure if you are having difficulty

The radial pulse is the most common initial pulse point to check in a conscious patient, it is also an essential check in verifying the Circulation/Motor/Sensory status of an injured limb.

  • As part of the primary assessment it is helpful to feel both radial arteries simultaneously to detect asymmetries in strength.
  • In an unconscious patient, or one who appears to be in shock, the carotid pulse should be your first check.
Page data
Authors GSTC
License CC-BY-SA-4.0
Cite as GSTC (2020–2025). "NREMT Skillset/Radial Pulse Palpation". Appropedia. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
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