Question

The pulse rate per minute describes the
A. Oxygenation rate
B. Heartbeat
C. Pulse
D. Both B and C

Answer 1

Hint: The pulse rate is measured based on the heart muscle contractions occurring due to the depolarization and repolarization of atria and ventricles. The electrical impulse is initiated by the SA node.

Complete answer: Heartbeat is basically a beat per minute or a pulse per minute. It is caused due to the contractions and relaxations of heart muscles which are stimulated by an electrical impulse from the SA node. One cardiac cycle gives the measure of the complete cycle of contractions and relaxation of atria and ventricles, starting from the filling up of ventricles to its contractions by pumping the blood out through the aorta and filling up of atria again. The heartbeat makes a sound of lub, dub, lub, dub based on the four stages of contractions and relaxations.
-Pulse is also the same as a heartbeat as it is a measure of a beat per minute. Pulse gives a mechanical measure of blood flow in the arteries due to contractions in the heart, creating a pulse while blood supply. Even though the heartbeat is an accurate measure of heart contractions and relaxations, the pulse gives the same number of pulse rates. It can be measured from the wrist, side of the neck, inside of the elbow, and top of the foot.
-Oxygenation of the tissues is referred to as the amount of oxygen reaching all the tissues to perform all metabolic functions. The normal arterial oxygenation is 70 – 100 mmHg. Normal oximeters are used that calculates the amount of oxygen in hemoglobin. Another measure is oxygen saturation. Heart rate, the dissociation and association of the oxygen to hemoglobin, binding affinity, blood flow, and blood pressure also affect the oxygenation rate but is not the measure of pulse rate per minute. As discussed heartbeat and pulse can both give a measure of pulse rate per minute.
Hence, the correct answer is an option (D).

Note: Normal pulse rate in children is 70-110 beats per minute. The normal pulse rate in adults is 60-90 beats per minute. This varies from individual to individual and even on the position of the body.