Which two arteries are used to palpate pulse in head and neck?

• A. Facial and Lingual
• B. Carotid and Temporal
• C. Occipital and Maxillary
• D. Temporal and Buccal

Answer: (B)

Palpating a pulse in the head and neck relies on arteries that run close to the surface and provide a strong, reliable heartbeat signal. The carotid artery in the neck is a primary site because its pulse is large, easy to feel, and reflects the heart’s rhythm and rate. The temporal artery sits over the temple just beneath the skin, making it another accessible site to check pulse, especially when a quick assessment of head circulation is needed.

In practice, you typically palpate the carotid pulse on one side at a time to avoid reducing blood flow to the brain, and you press gently but firmly to feel the rhythmic pulsation. The temporal pulse is useful for quick checks and is less invasive than the neck site.

Other arteries in that region are either too small, too deep, or not reliable for routinely measuring a general pulse, so they aren’t the standard choices for this purpose.