auscultatory gap

Medical term Patient Intake and Vitals

A silent period when Korotkoff sounds fade between the systolic and diastolic pressures and then return; missing it gives an inaccurate reading.

Sources

Related terms

Korotkoff soundsThe tapping sounds heard through the stethoscope while the cuff deflates; the first sound is the systolic…
anthropometric measurementA body measurement such as height, weight, BMI or head circumference.
apical pulseThe heartbeat heard with a stethoscope over the apex of the heart, at the fifth intercostal space…
apneaAbsence of breathing.
audiometryA hearing test that measures responses to sounds of different pitches and volumes.
axillary temperatureTemperature taken in the armpit.
blood pressureThe force of blood against the artery walls, written as systolic over diastolic in mm Hg.
brachial pulseThe pulse at the inner elbow (antecubital area), where the stethoscope is placed to hear blood pressure…
bradycardiaHeart rate slower than 60 beats per minute in an adult.