Marey type sphygmograph, Paris, France, 1860-1904
French physiologist Étienne-Jules Marey developed this sphygmograph. Marey improved the basic sphygmograph invented by German physiologist Karl Vierordt (1818-84) in 1855 by making it portable. It is thought this instrument may have belonged to Marey himself. A sphygmograph records the pulse. It is placed on the wrist. The movement of the pulse is transmitted through the rubber diaphragm. A lever attached to the diaphragm records the pulse contraction on smoked paper.
Object number:
A600282
Related Themes and Topics
Glossary:
Glossary: sphygmograph
An instrument used to measure the pulse. It records the strength and rate of a person's pulse. Records are recorded on graph paper.
Glossary: blood pressure
The pressure at which blood is pumped around the body, closely related to the heart rate.