Watson's water hammer pulse (whp), also known as collapsing pulse, cannonball pulse or pulsus celer, is used to describe a pulse with a rapid upstroke and descent, characteristically described in aortic regurgitation.
Although the term Corrigan's pulse has been used at times synonymously with whp,
Corrigan's pulse/sign is largely used to describe the abrupt distension and quick collapse of carotid pulse in aortic regurgitation whereas
the term 'water hammer pulse' is used for the characteristic pulse seen in peripheral arteries like the radial artery. It may be seen in a number of other conditions and with hyperdynamic circulation
