Haemomanometer is a medical device used to measure blood pressure. Its spelling may seem confusing due to the presence of the letter "a" instead of the expected "e". However, this spelling reflects the word's Greek origins where "haima" (meaning "blood") is spelled with an "a". The word is pronounced as /hiː.moʊ.mə.nɑː.mə.tər/ in IPA phonetic transcription, with emphasis on the first syllable (/hiː/) and the "o" in the second syllable pronounced as a long "o" (/moʊ/).
A haemomanometer, also known as a sphygmomanometer, is a medical device used to measure blood pressure. It is widely employed by healthcare professionals to determine the systolic and diastolic blood pressure values of a patient. The term "haemomanometer" is derived from the Greek words "haima" meaning blood, "manos" meaning thin and "metron" meaning measure.
The haemomanometer comprises three key components: an inflatable cuff, a pressure gauge, and a stethoscope. The cuff is wrapped around the upper arm and inflated using a hand pump to exert external pressure on the brachial artery. The pressure gauge indicates the amount of pressure being exerted, enabling the healthcare professional to read the blood pressure measurements. The stethoscope is used to detect the sounds of blood flow.
To measure blood pressure, the healthcare provider inflates the cuff to a pressure above the anticipated systolic pressure. Then, they slowly release the pressure while listening to the blood flow through the stethoscope. The first sound they hear corresponds to the systolic blood pressure, and as they continue to reduce the pressure, they reach a point when the sound disappears. This reflects the diastolic blood pressure.
Haemomanometers are available in various types, including mercury, aneroid, and digital models. While mercury-based haemomanometers were commonly used in the past, the use of mercury is being phased out due to environmental concerns. Aneroid and digital haemomanometers have become more popular alternatives, offering similar accuracy and ease of use.
The word "Haemomanometer" is a combination of two Greek roots: "haemo" and "manometer".
The root "haemo" comes from the Greek word "haima", meaning blood. It is commonly used in medical terminology to refer to something related to blood.
The root "manometer" comes from the Greek word "manos", meaning thin or rare, and the suffix "-meter", which means a measuring device. "Manometer" is used to denote an instrument that measures pressure or force.
So, when combined, "Haemomanometer" indicates a device used to measure blood pressure.