Which term describes a pulse that feels strong and full?

• A. Irregular
• B. Regular
• C. Thready
• D. Bounding

Answer: (D)

A pulse that feels strong and full indicates a high amplitude of arterial pulsation. This is described as a bounding pulse—it's firm, forceful, and often large in its feel when you palpate it. The idea here is that the strength of the pulse reflects how forcefully the heart is ejecting blood and how compliant the arteries are. A bounding pulse suggests a robust stroke volume and can be seen in states with increased cardiac output or sympathetic activity, such as fever, exercise, anxiety, anemia, or hyperthyroidism.

The other terms describe rhythm or quality rather than sheer force: a regular pulse refers to a steady rhythm, an irregular pulse to an abnormal rhythm, and a thready pulse to a weak, faint, or hard-to-feel pulse. None of those describe the strong, full sensation you get with bounding.