By comparing the graphic of a normal patient to our patient, we can appreciate that our patient’s carotid arterial pulse has a small amplitude. The decreased amplitude of the hypokinetic arterial pulse may reflect a decreased stroke volume during left ventricular contraction. This, in turn, can be related to a decreased preload, or filling volume, or poor left or right ventricular function. A small, or hypokinetic, pulse may also be present with outflow tract obstruction.