For a glimpse at how the heart is working, a doctor will measure heart rate during the physical exam. Your heart rate is the number of times your heart beats in one minute. With each heartbeat, a pressure wave (pulse) passes along an artery as its walls bulge and then relax to accommodate the surge of blood. To feel this pulse, you can place your fingers on key blood vessels, like the radial artery on your wrist (Figures 1 and 2) or the carotid artery on your neck where your jaw and neck meet (Figures 3 and 4), and count. What equipment do you need to record this vital sign?