What is the name of the instrument used to measure blood pressure?

The instrument used to measure blood pressure is called a sphygmomanometer. This device consists of an inflatable cuff that wraps around the arm and is connected to a pressure gauge. When the cuff is inflated, it compresses the arm's arteries, temporarily stopping blood flow. As the cuff deflates, the gauge measures the pressure exerted by blood against the arterial walls, producing two key readings: systolic pressure (the peak pressure during heartbeats) and diastolic pressure (the lowest pressure between heartbeats). This measurement is crucial for assessing cardiovascular health and diagnosing hypertension.

Other instruments listed, such as the stethoscope, are used in conjunction with the sphygmomanometer to listen to heart sounds, but they do not measure blood pressure themselves. The thermometer measures body temperature, and the electrocardiogram records electrical activity of the heart, neither of which relate to blood pressure measurement. Thus, the sphygmomanometer is uniquely designated for this specific purpose.