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Chapter 13
Vital Signs
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Apical Pulse | the pulse on the left side of the chest, just below the nipple |
| Apnea | the absence of breathing |
| Brachial Pulse | the pulse inside the elbow about 1 to 1 1/2 inches above the elbow |
| Bradycardia | a slow heart rate -- under 60 beats per minute |
| Cheyne-Stokes respiration | type of respiration with periods of apnea at least 10 seconds, along with alternating periods of slow, irregular respirations and rapid, shallow respirations |
| Diastolic | second measurement of blood pressure; phase when the heart relaxed |
| Dilate | to widen |
| Dyspnea | difficulty breathing |
| Eupnea | normal respirations |
| Expiration | the process of exhaling air out of the lungs |
| Hypertension | high blood pressure, measuring 140/90 or higher |
| Hypotension | low blood pressure, measuring 100/60 or lower |
| Hypothermia | a condition in which body temperature drops below the level required for normal functioning; severe sub-normal body temperature |
| Inspiration | the process of inhaling air into the lungs |
| Orthopnea | shortness of breath when lying down that is relieved by sitting up |
| Orthostatic Hypotension | a sudden drop in blood pressure that occurs when a person stands or sits up; also called postural hypotension |
| Prehypertension | a condition in which a person has a systolic measurement of 120-139 mm Hg and a diastolic measurement of 80-89 mm Hg; indicator that the person is likely to have high blood pressure in the future, even though he or she does not have it now |
| Radial Pulse | the pulse on the inside of the wrist, where the radial artery runs just beneath the skin |
| Respiration | the process of inhaling air into the lungs (inspiration) and exhaling air out of the lungs (expiration) |
| Sphygmomanometer | a device that measures blood pressure |
| Stethoscope | an instrument used to hear sounds in the human body, such as the heartbeat or pulse, breathing sounds, or bowel sounds |
| Systolic | first measurement of blood pressure; phase when the heart is at work, contracting and pushing blood out of the left ventricle |
| Tachycardia | a fast heartbeat -- over 100 beats per minute |
| Tachypnea | rapid respirations -- over 20 breaths per minute |
| Thermometer | a device used for measuring the degree of heat or cold |
| Oral | 97.6-99.6 |
| Rectal | 98.6-100.6 |
| Axillary | 96.6-98.6 |
| Normal Pulse Rate | 60-100 beats per minute |
| Normal Respiratory Rate | 12-20 respirations per minute |
| Normal Blood Pressure | 100/60-119/79 |