The nurse is assessing a patient's arterial waveform and notes a notch on the descending portion of the waveform.The nurse associates this notch with which physiological events? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.
Select all that apply.
A)Closure of the aortic valve
B)The highest systolic pressure
C)Systolic ejection of blood
D)The diastolic pressure
E)Beginning of ventricular diastole

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The notch on the descending portion of the arterial waveform, known as the dicrotic notch, is associated with the closure of the aortic valve (A) and the beginning of ventricular diastole (E). This notch represents a brief increase in arterial pressure following the closure of the aortic valve due to the elastic recoil of the aorta, which momentarily increases the blood pressure before it continues to fall during diastole.

The Nurse Is Assessing a Patient's Arterial Waveform and Notes