RAD 170 - Ch 15 Vital Signs, Oxygen, Chest Tubes, & Lines - Key Terms

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

Measurement 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 the 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 BPM

Tachypnea:

Abnormal rapidity 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