Vital Signs

Afebrile

Without fever; a normal body temperature of 98.6°F.

Apnea

Temporary cessation of breathing.

Auscultatory Gap

A silent interval between Korotkoff sounds during blood pressure measurement.

Blood Pressure

The force of blood against arterial walls, expressed in systolic/diastolic measurements.

Bradycardia

A slower-than-normal heart rate <60 beats per minute in adults.

Bradypnea

Abnormally slow breathing rate.

Diastolic Pressure

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

Dyspnea

Difficult or labored breathing.

Dysrhythmia

An irregular or abnormal heart rhythm.

Eupnea

Normal, unlabored breathing.

Febrile

Having a fever or elevated body temperature.

Fever

Elevated body temperature, usually due to infection or illness.

Hypertension

Abnormally high blood pressure.

Hyperthermia

Excessively high body temperature, usually due to environmental or medical conditions.

Hyperventilation

Rapid or deep breathing, leading to decreased carbon dioxide levels in the blood.

Hypotension

Abnormally low blood pressure.

Hypothermia

Dangerously low body temperature, often due to prolonged exposure to cold.

Hypoventilation

Shallow or slow breathing, resulting in increased carbon dioxide levels in the blood.

Korotkoff Sounds

The sounds heard while measuring blood pressure with a stethoscope and cuff.

Orthopnea

Difficulty breathing while lying flat, relieved by sitting or standing.

Orthostatic Hypotension

A drop in blood pressure upon standing, often causing dizziness or fainting.

Pulse

The rhythmic expansion of an artery caused by the ejection of blood from the heart.

Pulse Deficit

The difference between the apical pulse and the radial pulse.

Pulse Pressure

The difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressures.

Pyrexia

Another term for fever or elevated body temperature.

Respirations

The process of inhaling and exhaling; the rate of breathing.

Systolic Pressure

The pressure in the arteries during heart contraction.

Tachycardia

A faster-than-normal heart rate >100 beats per minute in adults.

Tachypnea

Abnormally rapid breathing rate.

Temperature

A measure of the body’s heat, reflecting metabolic activity and thermoregulation.

Vital Signs

Clinical measurements indicating the state of essential body functions: temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure.