sphygmomanometer /sfig′mōmənom″ətər/ [Gk, sphygmos + manos, thin, metron, measure] , an instrument for indirect measurement of blood pressure. It consists of an inflatable cuff that fits around a limb, a bulb for controlling air pressure within the cuff, and a mercury or aneroid manometer. Pressure in the compressed artery is estimated by the column of mercury it balances when the cuff is inflated. See also blood pressure, manometer.
