Medical Assisting

Vital Signs Vocabulary

Afebrile

Normal body temperature / without a fever.

Antecubital fossa

Refers to the triangular area located on the anterior portion of the elbow joint where a brachial pulse is palpated.

Auscultation

The technical term that refers to listening to various bodily sounds (i.e., heart and breath sounds) through the use of a stethoscope.

Blood pressure (BP)

The amount of pressure within the arteries throughout the cardiac cycle. - Blood pressure is expressed as systolic pressure over diastolic pressure in mmHg.

Bradycardia

Slow heart rate - Value (adult): Rates below 60 bpm.

Bradypnea

Slow respiratory rate - Value (adult): Rates below 10 breaths per minute.

Diastolic

When reading blood pressure, this is the bottom number. - Diastolic pressure is a measure of arterial pressure during ventricular relaxation (when the ventricles fill back up with blood).

Dyspnea

Difficulty breathing (usually related to cardiac problems).

Febrile

Fever, used as an adjective. - Ex: Patient arrived at the office and was proven to be febrile with a rectal temperature of 101.3 F.

Hypertension

Higher than normal blood pressure - Value: Higher than 121/80 mmHg

Hypotension 

Lower than normal blood pressure - Value: Lower than 90/60. 

Hypothermia

Refers to body temperatures that fall below 95°F.

Pulse

A measurement of the heart's contraction rate. - WNL value (adult): 60-100 bpm

Pyrexia

A medical term for “fever”, this term is used as a condition. - Ex: Three patients today had unexplained pyrexia.

Respiratory rate

The number of breaths that an individual takes in one minute. - WNL value (adult): 12-20 breaths per minute.

Systolic

When reading blood pressure, this is the top number. - Systole refers to the ventricular contraction phase in which the blood is forced out of the heart into the body for circulation.

Tachycardia

Fast heart rate - Value (adult): Rates above 100 bpm

Tachypnea

Fast respiratory rate -Value (adult): Rates above 20 breaths per minute.

Temperature

A measure of the internal heat of an individual. - Value (adult): The normal range for adults is 97.0 ° F to 99.0 ° F.

Hypotension Symptoms

Dizziness or lightheadedness
Fainting (syncope)
Blurred vision

Hypertension Symptoms

Often asymptomatic, but when symptoms appear:

Headache
Blurred vision
Nosebleeds

Tachypnea Symptoms

Shortness of breath
Chest tightness
Anxiety

Bradypnea Symptoms

Fatigue
Dizziness
Confusion or altered mental status

Hypothermia Symptoms

Shivering
Slurred speech
Confusion or memory loss

Pyrexia Symptoms

Sweating
Chills
Headache

Bradycardia Symptoms

Fatigue or weakness
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Fainting (syncope)

Tachycardia Symptoms

Palpitations (feeling of rapid heartbeat)
Shortness of breath
Chest discomfort or pain