What happens to your artery when you feel a pulse?

During diastole, or the resting part of the heartbeat, there is a minimum amount of pressure on arteries. When the heart pumps (systole) it forces the blood out of the ventricle and into the artery. Arteries are elastic, so when this blood passes through it, it causes the artery to expand from the increased pressure. It is this expansion as the bolus of blood rushes forward that you feel in a pulse.