In aging adults, which arteries may be difficult to locate during palpation?

• A. Dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial
• B. Radial and ulnar
• C. Carotid and facial
• D. Femoral and popliteal

Answer: (A)

In aging adults, the pulses in the feet are often the hardest to locate due to age-related changes in the peripheral arteries. Atherosclerosis and calcification narrow and stiffen the lower-extremity vessels, reducing or even eliminating the pulsations you can feel. The dorsalis pedis pulse, which runs along the top of the foot, and the posterior tibial pulse, located behind the medial malleolus, are small and relatively superficial, so diminished perfusion or arterial calcification makes them frequently weak or nonpalpable. Upper-extremity pulses like the radial and ulnar are generally easier to detect unless widespread vascular disease is present, while the larger proximal pulses (femoral, popliteal, carotid) can be more variable but are less consistently hard to palpate than the pedal pulses in older adults.