Korotkoff sounds: effects of vessel elasticity on sound frequency

The clinical determination of blood pressure is commonly made by the auscultatory technique, i.e., listening to Korotkoff sounds. Although the accuracy of the auscultatory method has been adequately documented, the factors which produce the Korotkoff sounds have not. Some investigators believe that the sounds are due to blood vessel wall vibrations, others believe that they are due to blood flow disturbances. Many believe that these two factors can not be separated. Therefore, to shed light on the factors that underlie the cause of the sounds, this investigator elected to determine if there is a relationship between the frequency of Korotkoff sounds and the modulus of elasticity of the artery. This investigation and its results form the subject of this thesis. [...]