Chapter 26: Vital Signs

Vital signs

Reflect the status of a person, including temperature, pulse, respiration rate, and blood pressure.

Thermoregulatory center

The regulatory set point in the hypothalamus that processes information from cold and warm receptors to regulate body temperature.

Hypothermia

A condition of low body temperature.

Hyperthermia

A condition of high body temperature.

Pyrexia

An increase in body temperature, commonly known as a fever.

Antipyretic

Medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen used to reduce fever.

Sublingual temperature site

The most common temperature measurement site, taken under the tongue.

Apical pulse

The pulse rate measured over the apex of the heart, characterized by the sounds 'lub-dub'.

Tachycardia

A rapid heart rate, above the normal range of 60-100 beats per minute.

Bradycardia

A slow heart rate, below 60 beats per minute, which can be normal in some individuals such as athletes.

Thermal regulation mechanisms

Responses initiated by the hypothalamus, including shivering, vasoconstriction, and increased metabolism to raise body temperature.

Epinephrine and norepinephrine

Hormones released to alter metabolism, increasing heat production.

Skin

The primary source of heat loss from the body.

Blood pressure

The force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels.

Cardiac output

The volume of blood the heart pumps per minute, influenced by heart rate and stroke volume.

Capillaries

Small blood vessels where the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste occurs, lacking elasticity compared to arteries.

Circulating blood

Bloodflow that carries heat and nutrients throughout the body and helps regulate temperature.

Radiation, convection, evaporation, conduction

The four processes through which heat is transferred from the body.

Vagus nerve

The nerve that influences heart rate and is involved in the parasympathetic stimulation of the heart.

Arterial shunts

Small connections between arterioles and venules that help regulate heat loss from the body.

Sympathetic nervous system

Part of the autonomic nervous system that controls the opening and closing of arterial shunts in response to temperature changes.

Normal body temperature range

96.6-99.5°F.