A sphygmomanometer is primarily used to measure:

A sphygmomanometer is a medical device specifically designed to measure blood pressure, which is the force of blood against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps it around the body. The device consists of an inflatable cuff that is wrapped around the arm and a pressure gauge that indicates the level of pressure within the cuff. When the cuff is inflated, it temporarily stops blood flow through the artery beneath it. As the cuff is slowly deflated, the gauge measures the pressure at which blood flow starts to return, indicating the systolic pressure, and at which point the blood flow is completely unrestricted again, indicating the diastolic pressure.

This device plays a crucial role in assessing cardiovascular health and diagnosing conditions such as hypertension. Unlike other devices mentioned, like thermometers for measuring body temperature or pulse oximeters for assessing pulse and respiration rates, the sphygmomanometer is uniquely focused on blood pressure, making it an essential tool in both clinical and home healthcare settings.