Certified Medical Assistant (CMA AAMA)Clinical Workflow and Patient IntakeMedium
While auscultating blood pressure, the medical assistant notes the point at which the Korotkoff sounds completely disappear. This point corresponds to the:
- Amean arterial pressure
- Bsystolic pressure
- Cpulse pressure
- Ddiastolic pressure
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. diastolic pressure
Korotkoff Phase V, the point where sounds disappear entirely, is used clinically as the diastolic blood pressure reading. Phase I, the first tapping sound, marks the systolic pressure.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Mean arterial pressure is a calculated value, not directly identified by Korotkoff sounds.
- B. Systolic pressure is marked by the first sound heard (Phase I), not disappearance.
- C. Pulse pressure is the difference between systolic and diastolic, not a Korotkoff phase.
Korotkoff Sounds
Sounds heard through a stethoscope during manual blood pressure measurement that indicate systolic and diastolic pressures.
- Phase I: first tapping sound = systolic
- Phase V: sounds disappear = diastolic
- Five phases total describe sound changes during cuff deflation
Memory trick: 'First sound starts systolic, silence signals diastolic.'