Which artery is used to assess a pulse in an infant?

• A. brachial artery
• B. radial artery
• C. carotid artery
• D. temporal artery

Answer: (A)

In infants, the pulse is most reliably assessed at the brachial artery because it lies close to the surface in the upper arm and is large enough to feel clearly even in a small infant. The radial artery, while used in older children and adults, is often too small to palpate reliably in neonates. The carotid artery is not favored for routine checks in infants due to the risk of discomfort or vagal responses and its location makes it less practical in a healthy infant. The temporal artery is not a practical or reliable site in newborns because it’s harder to access and its pulse is less dependable in very young patients. So the brachial artery provides the most dependable, accessible pulse assessment in infants.