Taylor Chapter 26 Terms Vital Signs

a condition in which the body temperature is not elevated

afebrile

absence of breathing

apnea

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 II

auscultatory gap

force of blood against arterial walls

pressure

slow heart rate

bradycardia

slow rate of breathing

bradypnea

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

diastolic pressure

difficult or labored breathing

dyspnea

an abnormal cardiac rhythm

dysrhythmia

normal respirations

eupnea

condition in which the body temperature is elevated

febrile

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

fever

blood pressure elevated above the upper limit of normal

hypertension

high body temperature

hyperthermia

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

hyperventilation

blood pressure below the lower limit of normal

hypotension

low body temperature

hypothermia

decreased rate or depth of air movement into the lungs

hypoventilation

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

orthopnea

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

orthostatic hypotension

difference between the apical and radial pulse rates

pulse

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

Korotkoff sounds

difference between the apical and radial pulse rates

pulse deficit

difference between systolic and diastolic pressures

pulse pressure

all dietary plant material that is not digestible by the gastrointestinal tract, enzymes, and secretions

pyrexia

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

respirations

highest point of pressure on arterial walls when the ventricles contract

systolic pressure

rapid heart rate

tachycardia

rapid rate of breathing

tachypnea

refers to the hotness or coldness of a substance

temperature

relating to the heart and the lungs

vital signs