The first step in the physical examination is an evaluation of the patient's general appearance. Our patient is a slender woman who is dyspneic at rest. We shall now determine the blood pressure by placing the stethoscope over the brachial artery, pumping up the blood pressure cuff to exceed the systolic blood pressure and listening for the Korotkoff sounds to determine both the systolic and the diastolic blood pressure. Let’s all listen and observe.

This patient’s blood pressure is 130/80, that is, normal.