Vital Signs and Medical Terminology

This set of flashcards covers primary medical vocabulary for vital signs and measurement tools based on the lecture transcript.

Blood glucose (sugar)

Glucose that the bloodstream carries to all the cells in the body to supply energy.

Blood pressure

The amount of force exerted against the walls of an artery by the blood.

Body temperature

The amount of heat in the body, which is a balance between the amount of heat produced and the amount lost by the body.

Bradycardia

A slow (brady) heart rate (cardia); the rate is less than $60\,\text{beats per minute}$.

Diastole

The period of heart muscle relaxation.

Diastolic pressure

The pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest.

Hypertension

Persistent blood pressure measurements above (hyper) the normal systolic ($140\,\text{mmHg}$) or diastolic ($110\,\text{mmHg}$) pressures.

Pulse

The beat of the heart felt at an artery as a wave of blood passes through the artery.

Pulse rate

The number of heartbeats or pulses felt in $1\,\text{minute}$.

Respiration

The act of breathing air into (inhalation) and out of (exhalation) the lungs.

Respiratory rate

The number of respirations undertaken in $1\,\text{minute}$.

Sphygmomanometer

A cuff and measuring device used to measure blood pressure.

Stethoscope

An instrument used to listen to the sounds produced by the heart, lungs and other body organs.

Systole

The period of heart muscle contraction.

Systolic pressure

The amount of force needed to pump blood out of the heart into the arterial circulation.

Tachycardia

A rapid (tachy) heart rate (cardia); the heart rate is over $100\,\text{beats per minute}$.

Tuning fork

An instrument vibrated to test hearing.

Vital signs

The basic signs of life which include temperature, pulse, respiration, oxygen saturation and blood pressure.