What instrument is commonly used to measure blood pressure in the arteries?

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Measuring arterial blood pressure requires a device that can occlude the artery and display the pressure. The sphygmomanometer is designed for this purpose. It typically includes a cuff, a pump to inflate, and a gauge (or a digital readout) to show the pressure. When used with a stethoscope, you listen for the Korotkoff sounds as the cuff is slowly released; the first sound signals the systolic pressure, and the point at which the sounds disappear marks the diastolic pressure. Some modern devices are automatic and provide the numbers directly without auscultation. The other tools serve different tasks: a stethoscope is for listening to internal sounds, an otoscope checks the ear, and a thermometer measures temperature. The sphygmomanometer is the instrument specifically used to measure arterial blood pressure.