NUR 216 vital sign terms

Afebrile

a condition in which the body temperature is not elevated

Apnea

 absence of breathing

Auscultatory gap

period of diminished or absent Korotkoff sounds; it occurs during the manual measurement of blood pressure in the latter part of phase I and during phase ll

Blood pressure

 force of blood against arterial walls

Bradycardia

slow heart rate

Bradypnea

slow rate of breathing

Diastolic pressure

least amount of pressure exerted on arterial walls, which occurs when the heart is at rest between ventricular contractions

Dyspnea

difficult or labored breathing

Dysrhythmia-

an abnormal cardiac rhythm

Eupnea

normal respirations

Febrile

condition in which the body temperature is elevated

Fever

elevation above the upper limit of normal body ­temperature; synonym for pyrexia

Hypertension-

blood pressure elevated above the upper limit of normal

Hyperthermia

high body temperature

Hyperventilation

condition in which there is more than the normal amount of air entering and leaving the lungs

Hypotension-

blood pressure below the lower limit of normal

Hypothermia-

low body temperature

Hypoventilation

decreased rate or depth of air movement into the lungs

Korotkoff sounds-

series of sounds that correspond to changes in blood flow through an artery as pressure is released

Orthopnea

 type of dyspnea in which breathing is easier when the patient sits or stands

orthostatic hypotension

temporary fall in blood pressure associated with assuming an upright position; synonym for postural hypotension

Pulse-

wave produced in the wall of an artery with each beat of the heart

pulse deficit-

difference between the apical and radial pulse rates

pulse pressure-

difference between systolic and diastolic pressures

Pyrexia

elevation above the upper limit of normal body temperature; synonym for fever

Respirations-

 gas exchange between the atmospheric air in the alveoli and blood in the capillaries 

systolic pressure-

highest point of pressure on arterial walls when the ventricles contract

Tachycardia

rapid heart rate

Tachypnea-

rapid rate of breathing

Temperature-

 refers to the hotness or coldness of a substance

vital signs

body temperature, pulse and respiratory rates, and blood pressure; synonym for cardinal signs