Last Updated on Dec 08, 2023

A sphygmomanometer is a blood-pressure monitoring device. This article will explain what the device is, how it works, its types, different parts, and its uses. Explore the details of the device and its working principle in this detailed guide.

Table of Contents

Sphygmomanometer

Types of Sphygmomanometer

Mercury Sphygmomanometer

Aneroid Sphygmomanometer

Digital Sphygmomanometer

Parts of Sphygmomanometer

Working Principle

How to Use a Sphygmomanometer?Sphygmomanometer Uses

Sphygmomanometer FAQs

We have all noticed doctors check our pressure with an instrument, which is usually strapped above our elbow. This essential blood pressure monitoring device is called a sphygmomanometer. It is also known as a blood pressure metre or blood pressure cuff.

The name sphygmomanometer is derived from the Greek word ‘sphygmo,’ which means the pulse or heartbeat. A manometer is a device that can measure tension or pressure. Samuel Siegfried Karl Ritter von Basch invented this machine in 1881. However, a simpler version of the sphygmomanometer was brought into existence by Scipione Riva-Rocci in 1896. A sphygmomanometer is a medical instrument used to measure blood pressure. It measures blood pressure on the basis of the force of the moving blood in the blood vessels. It is one of the simplest pieces of equipment used in the medical field with accuracy and precision. Besides blood pressure, it is also helpful for monitoring heart rate and its rhythm. It is also useful for hearing heart and breathing sounds. Thanks to modern innovation, there are different types of sphygmomanometers used across the world. Although their construction and working are different, the final output is the same thing i.e. measuring blood pressure.

What Is Sphygmomanometer?

The word sphygmomanometer comes from the Greek word “sphygmos” which means the beating of the heart and ‘manometer’ which means the device to measure the pressure using dimensional analysis. It was invented by Samuel Siegfried Karl Ritter von Basch in 1881. It is the most basic of instruments used by doctors and is used generally every time a person goes for a diagnosis. It consists of an inflatable cuff made of rubber which is attached to a scale of mercury with graduations on it. The systolic and diastolic pressure is measured by the gradual increase and release of the pressure inside the rubber cuff.

Types of Sphygmomanometer

There are three different types of sphygmomanometer which are as follows :

Mercury Sphygmomanometer : It is the most used type of sphygmomanometer. It consists of a graded tube containing mercury which measures the pressure applied by the bladder of the inflatable rubber cuff on the upper arm. For correct measurements, the instrument is kept on a flat surface. The advantage of this type is that it can last for a long time but due to the presence of mercury which is a toxic metal it is banned in some countries.

Aneroid Sphygmomanometer : It does not use any type of fluid for measuring pressure. In this type, the stethoscope is directly attached to the cuff which is further attached to a gauge with a dial. The gauge shows the pressure inside the cuff.

Automatic Digital Sphygmomanometer : It measures blood pressure electronically based on the fluctuations of the arteries. The cuff is directly connected to the device and it inflates and deflates with just a press of a button. It has a digital display to display the value of blood pressure. Due to these types being without any fluid they can be transported from one place to another more easily.

Sphygmomanometer Parts