Body Measuremens and Vital Signs Vocab

Afebrile

Having a body temperature within one’s normal range

Antipyretic

An agent that reduces fever

Apical pulse

Heartbeat measured directly by placing a stethoscope over the apex bottom, top of the heart

Apnea

The absence of respiration

Auscultation

The process of listening to body sounds

Blood pressure

The pressure exerted by the blood against the wall of an artery or vien

Bradypnea

Condition of slower-than-normal breathing

Carotid artery

Major blood vessels on each side of the neck that supply blood to the brain, head, and face

Cheyne-Stokes respirations

Unusual breathing pattern characterized by periods of apnea(between 10 sec), followed by gradually increasing respirations

Diastole

Relaxation of the ventricles

Dyspnea

Difficult or painful breathing

Femoral artery

Main blood vessel supplying oxygen-rich blood to the lower body and legs

Fever

Febrile, above patients patients normal range

Hyperpyrexia

An exeptionally high fever over 106 F, dangerous high

Hypertension

High blood pressure

Hypotension

Low blood pressure

Hypothermia

Body temperature below normal

Hypoxemia

A low level of oxygen in the blood

Orthopnea

Condition in which breathing becomes easier when the patient is sitting up straight

Oxygen Saturation

The percentage of blood hemoglobin carrying oxygen

Pain

An unpleasant feeling associated with actual or possible tissue damage

Pulse

The rhythmic throbbing generated by contractions of the heart; detected over the major arteries of the body

Pulse Pressure

The difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure

Radial pulse

The pulse felt at the wrist

Respiration

The process of gas exchange

Sphygmomanometer

An instrument used to measure blood pressure

Stethoscope

An instrument used to listen to sounds inside the body

Systole

Contraction of the ventricles

Temperature

The measurement of the body’s degree of heat

Tachycardia

Fast heart rate (100+ bpm adults)

Vital Signs

Measurements of essential body functions including temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure.