Auscultatory gap
Auscultatory Gap
Auscultatory gap (pronounced: aw-skuhl-tuh-tawr-ee gap) is a term used in the field of medicine to describe a period of diminished or absent Korotkoff sounds during the process of measuring blood pressure.
Etymology
The term "auscultatory" is derived from the Latin word "auscultare", which means "to listen". The "gap" refers to the period of silence or diminished sounds.
Definition
An auscultatory gap is a period where Korotkoff sounds indicating systolic and diastolic blood pressure temporarily disappear during sphygmomanometer measurement. This phenomenon is often associated with hypertension and can lead to an underestimation of systolic blood pressure or an overestimation of diastolic blood pressure if not properly recognized.
Related Terms
- Korotkoff sounds: The sounds that medical professionals listen for when they are taking blood pressure using a stethoscope and a sphygmomanometer.
- Systolic pressure: The highest pressure when your heart beats and pushes the blood round your body.
- Diastolic pressure: The lowest pressure when your heart relaxes between beats.
- Sphygmomanometer: An instrument for measuring blood pressure, typically consisting of an inflatable rubber cuff which is applied to the arm and connected to a column of mercury next to a graduated scale.
- Hypertension: A condition in which the force of the blood against the artery walls is too high.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Auscultatory gap
- Wikipedia's article - Auscultatory gap
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