Question | Answer |
various determinations that provide information about the basic body conditions of the patient | vital signs |
the measurement of the balance between heat lost and heat produced by the body | temperature |
the pressure of the blood felt against the wall of an artery as the heart contracts and relaxes | pulse |
refers to the number of beats per minute | rate |
refers to regularity | rhythm |
refers to strength | volume |
reflect the breathing rate of the patient | respirations |
the force exerted by the blood against the arterial walls when the heart contracts or relaxes | blood pressure |
pulse is checked or measured with a stethoscope at the apex of the heart | apical pulse |
a constant state of fluid balance | homeostasis |
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temperature is checked in the armpit, under the upper arm | axillary |
temperature is measured with a special thermometer placed in the ear or auditory canal | aural |
body temperature below 95%F | hypothermia |
elevated body temperature usually above 101%f | fever |
another term for fever | pyrexia |
occurs when the body temperature exceeds 104%F measured rectally | hyperthermia |
a pulse rate under 60 beats per minute | bradycardia |
pulse rate over 100 beats per minute (except in children) | tachycardia |
an irregular or abnormal rhythm | arrhythmia |
process of taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide | respiration |
difficult or labored breathing | dyspnea |
absence of repirations | apnea |
respiratory rate above 25 respirations per minute | tachypnea |
slow respiratory rate below 10 respirations per minute | bradypnea |
severe dyspnea in which breathing is very difficult in any position other than sitting erect or standing | orthopnea |
respirations-periods of dyspnea followed by periods of apnea | cheyne-stokes |
a dusky, bluish discoloration of skin,lips, and/or nail beds | cyanosis |
measurement of the pressure that the blood exerts on the walls of the arteries during the various stages of heart activity | blood pressure |
pressure occurs in the walls of the arteries when the left ventricle of the heart is contracting and pushing blood into the arteries | systolic |
normal systolic reading | 120 mm Hg |
constant pressure in the walls of the arteries when the left ventricle of the heart is at rest | diastolic |
normal diastolic reading | 80 mm Hg |
high blood pressure | hypertension |
low blood pressure | hypotension |