Ch. 15 Vital Signs, Oxygen, Chest Tubes and Lines

Apnea

Cessation of spontaneous ventilation

Atelectasis

Absence of gas from part or the whole of the lungs as a result of failure of expansion or reabsorption of gas from the alveoli

Auscultation

Listening to sounds of the body, typically through the use of a stethoscope

Body Temperature

Measurements of the degree of heat of the deep tissues of the human body

Bradycardia

Slowness of the heartbeat as evidenced by slowing of the pulse rate to less than 60 beats per minute (BPM)

Bradypnea

Abnormal slowness of breathing

Diaphoresis

Profuse sweating

Diastolic

Pertaining to dilation, or a period of relaxation of the heart, especially of the ventricles

Dyspnea

Difficult or labored breathing

Febrile

Pertaining to or characterized by fever

Homeostasis

Constancy in the internal environment of the body, naturally maintained by adaptive responses that promote healthy survival

Hypertension

Persistently high arterial blood pressure

Hyperthermia

Abnormally high body temperature, especially that induced for therapeutic purposes

Hypotension

Abnormally low blood pressure, seen in shock but not necessarily indicative of shock

Hypothermia

Low body temperature

Hypoxemia

Decreased oxygen tension (concentration) in the blood

Hypoxia

Reduction of oxygen supply to the tissue

Intubation

Insertion of a tubular device into a canal, hollow organ, or cavity

Orthopnea

Difficulty breathing except when sitting up or standing erect

Pleural Effusion

Increased amounts of fluid within the pleural cavity, usually the result of inflammation

Pneumothorax

Presence of air or gas in the pleural cavity

Pulse Oximeter

Photoelectric device used for determining the oxygen saturation of blood

Respiration

Action of inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide during breathing

Sphygmomanometer

Instrument for measuring blood pressure

Systolic

Pertaining to tightening, or a period of contraction of the heart (myocardium), especially that of the ventricles

Tachycardia

Rapidity of the heart action, usually defined as a heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute (BMP)

Tachypnea

A rapid rate of breathing

Tidal Volume

Volume of air inhaled and exhaled during one respiratory cycle

Ventilation

Mechanical movement of air into and out of the lungs

Thermoregulation

The body’s maintenance of heat production and heat loss