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chapter 13 BNA
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| apical pulse | the pulse on the left side of the chest, just below the nipple. |
| apnea | the absence of breathing |
| auscultation | the act of listening to sounds within the body using a stethoscope |
| BPM | the medical abbreviation for beats per minute |
| brachial pulse | the pulse located inside the elbow, about 1 1/2 inches above the elbow |
| bradycardia | slow heart rate, under 60 beats per minute |
| Celsius | the centigrade temperature scale in which the boiling point of water is 100 degrees and the freezing point of water is 0 degrees |
| Cheyne stokes respiration | alternating periods of slow, irregular respiration and rapid, shallow respiration, possibly a long with periods of apnea |
| diastolic | the second measurement of blood pressure; phase when the heart relaxes or rests. |
| dilate | to widen |
| dyspnea | difficulty breathing |
| eupnea | normal respirations |
| expiration | the process of exhaling air out of the lungs |
| Fahrenheit | a temperature scale in which the boiling point of water is 212 degrees and the freezing point of water is 32 degrees |
| hypertension | high blood pressure, regularly measuring 130/80mm Hg or higher |
| hypotension | low blood pressure, measure 90/60 mm Hg or lower |
| hypothermia | severe subnormal body temperature; body temperature drops below the level required for normal functioning |
| inspiration | the process of inhaling air into the lungs |
| Kussmaul breathing | very deep rapid breathing that is associated with diabetic ketoacidosis and kidney failure; also known as air hunger |
| 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 |
| palpate | to touch body parts in order to feel structures beneath the skin |
| radial pulse | the pulse located on the inside of the wrist, where the radial artery runs just beneath the skin |
| respiration | the process of inhaling air into of the lungs (inspiration) and exhaling air out of the lungs (expiration) |
| sphygmonanometer | a device that measures blood pressure |
| stethoscope | an instrument used to hear sounds in the 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 | rapid heart rate, 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 |
| vital signs | measurement temperature pulse rate, respiratort rate, and blood pressure that monitor the functioning of the vital organs of the body. |