Where is the radial pulse located?

The radial pulse is primarily located on the outer aspect of the wrist, specifically at the radial artery, which runs along the lateral side of the forearm. To palpate the radial pulse, one typically places the fingers just lateral to the tendon of the flexor carpi radialis, which is on the thumb side of the wrist. This pulse is commonly used in clinical settings as it is easily accessible and provides valuable information about the heart rate and rhythm.

Other locations mentioned, such as the inner aspect of the elbow joint, behind the knee, and below and behind the ankle, correspond to different arteries or pulse points in the body but are not associated with the radial pulse specifically. For instance, the inner aspect of the elbow relates to the brachial artery, the area behind the knee refers to the popliteal artery, and the location behind the ankle pertains to the posterior tibial artery. Each of these locations serves its distinct purpose in vascular assessments but is not relevant to the identification of the radial pulse.