We shall continue the evaluation of the patient by evaluating the carotid arterial pulse, located right here, just medial to the sternocleidomastoid muscle. We put light pressure on the vessel and evaluate the upstroke, the peak, then the downstroke.

We can enhance our observations at the bedside by placing a cotton swab over the vessel and observing the movement of the tip of that cotton swab, again, observing the contour of this carotid arterial pulse.