Vital Signs Quiz

Lippincott Ch. 26

afebrile

Describes a patient without fever, indicating a body temperature within the normal range. (*a condition in which the body temperature is not elevated)(below 100.04°F or 37.8°C)

apnea

*absense of breathing (or inadequate breathing due to various causes.)

auscultatory gap

*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

blood pressure

*force of blood against arterial walls

bradycardia

*slow heart rate

bradypnea

*slow rate of breathing

diastolic pressure

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

dyspnea

*difficult or labored breathing

dysrhythmia

*an abnormal cardiac rhythm

eupnea

*normal respirations

febrile

*condition in which the body temperature is elevated

fever

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

hypertension

*blood pressure elevated above the upper limit of normal

hyperthermia

*high body temperature

hyperventilation

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

hypotension

*blood pressure below the lower limit of normal

hypothermia

*low body temperature

hypoventilation

*decreased rate or depth of air movement into the lungs

Korotkoff sounds

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

orthopnea

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

orthostatic hypotension

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

pulse

*wave produced in the wall of an artery with each beat of the heart

pulse deficit

*difference between the apical and radial pulse rates

pulse pressure

*difference between systolic and diastolic pressures

pyrexia

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

respirations

One respiration includes one complete breathing cycle—both the chest rising (inhaling) and falling (exhaling).

systolic pressure

*highest point of pressure on arterial walls when the ventricles contract

tachycardia

* rapid heart rate

tachypnea

*rapid rate of breathing

temperature

*refers to the hotness or coldness of a substance

vital signs

*body temperature, pulse and respiratory rates, and blood pressure; synonym for cardinal signs