What is the instrument used to measure blood pressure?

The sphygmomanometer is the instrument specifically designed to measure blood pressure. It consists of an inflatable cuff that is wrapped around the upper arm and a pressure gauge that indicates the blood pressure reading. The process involves inflating the cuff to constrict blood flow in the arm and then slowly deflating it while listening to the sounds of blood flow with a stethoscope. The first sound heard is the systolic pressure, and the point at which the sounds disappear indicates the diastolic pressure. This measurement is crucial for assessing cardiovascular health and diagnosing conditions such as hypertension.

The stethoscope, while used in conjunction with the sphygmomanometer to listen to heartbeats and blood flow sounds, does not measure blood pressure on its own. A barometer measures atmospheric pressure, which is unrelated to blood pressure, and a thermometer measures body temperature, again providing information that is not directly relevant to assessing blood pressure levels.