Question | Answer |
adventitious sounds | abnormal breath sounds |
afebrile | without fever; the body temperature is normal |
alveolus | a thin-walled air sac of the lungs in which the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place |
antecubital space | the space located at the front of the elbow |
antipyretic | an agent that reduces fever |
aorta | the major trunk of the arterial system of the body |
apnea | the temporary cessation of breathing |
axilla | the armpit |
bounding pulse | a pulse with an increased volume that feels very strong and full |
bradycardia | an abnormally slow heart rate (less than 60 beats per minute). |
bradypnea | an abnormal decrease in the respiratory rate of less than 10 respirations per minute |
celsius scale | a temperature scale on which the freezing point of water is 0 degrees and the boiling point of water is 100 degrees. |
conduction | the transfer of energy, such as heat, from one object to another by direct contact. |
convection | the transfer of energy, such as heat, through air currents. |
crisis | a sudden falling of an elevated body temperature to normal. |
cyanosis | a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes. |
diastole | the phase in the cardiac cycle in which the heart relaxes between contractions. |
diastolic pressure | the point of lesser pressure on the arterial wall, which is recorded during diastole. |
dyspnea | shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing. |
dysrhythmia | an irregular rhythm |
eupnea | normal respiration. the rate is 16 to 20 respirations per minute, the rhythm is even and regular, and the depth is normal. |
exhalation | the act of breathing out. |
fahrenheit scale | a temperature scale on which the freezing point of water is 32 degrees and the boiling point of water is 212 degrees. |
febrile | pretaining to fever. |
fever | a body temperature that is above normal. |
frenulum linguae | the midline fold that connects the undersurface of the tongue with the floor of the mouth. |
hypernea | an abonormal increase in the rate and depth of respiration. |
hyperpyrexia | an extremely high fever. |
hypertension | high blood pressure. |
hyperventilation | an abnormally fast and deep type or breathing, usually associated with acute anxiety conditions. |
hypopnea | an abnormal decrease in the rate and depth of respiration. |
hypotension | low blood pressure. |
hypothermia | a body temperature that is below normal. |
hypoxemia | a decrease in the oxygen supply to the tissues of the body. |
hypoxia | a reduction in the oxygen supply to the tissues of the body. |
inhalation | the act of breathing in. |
intercostal | between the ribs. |
korotkoff sounds | sounds heard during the measurement of blood pressure that are used to determine the systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings. |
malaise | a vague sense of body discomfort, weakness, and fatigue that often marks the onset of a disease and continues through the course of illness. |
manometer | an instrument for measuring pressure. |
meniscus | the curved surface on a column of liquid in a tube. |
orthopnea | the condition in which breathing is easier when an individual is in a sitting or standing position. |
pulse oximeter | a computerized device consisting of a probe and monitor used to measure the oxygen saturation of arterial blood. |
pulse oximetry | the use of a pulse oximeter to measure the oxygen saturation of arterial blood. |
pulse pressure | the difference between the systolic and diastolic pressures. |
pulse rhythm | the time interval between heartbeats. |
pulse volume | the strength of the heartbeat. |
radiation | the transfer of energy, such as heat, in the form of waves. |
SaO2 (saturate of arterial oxygen) | abbreviation for the percentage of hemoglobin that is saturated with oxygen in arterial blood. |
SpO2 (saturation of peripheral oxygen) | abbreviation for the percentage of hemoglobin that is saturated with oxygen in arterial blood as measured by a pulse oximeter. |
sphygmomanometer | an instrument for measuring arterial blood pressure. |
stethoscope | an instrument for amplifying and hearing sounds produced by the body. |
systole | the phase in the cardiac cycle in which the ventricles contract, sending blood out of the heart and into the aorta and pulmonary aorta. |
systolic pressure | the point of maximum pressure on the arterial walls, which is recorded during systole. |
tachycardia | an abnormally fast heart rate (more than 100 beats per minute). |
tachypnea | an abnormal increase in the respiratory rate of more than 20 respirations per minute. |
thready pulse | a pulse with a decreased volume that feels weak and thin. |