Body Temperature

Question 1

It reflects the balance between the heat produced and the heat loss from the body.

Answer 1

Body temperature

Question 2

What are the two kinds of body temperature?

Answer 2

Core Temperature & Surface Temperature

Question 3

It is the temperature of the deep tissues of the body, such as the abdominal cavity and pelvic cavity.

Answer 3

Core temperature

Question 4

It is the temperature of the skin, the subcutaneous tissue, and fat.

Answer 4

Surface temperature

Question 5

The temperature that remains relatively constant.

Answer 5

Core temperature

Question 6

The temperature that rises and falls in response to the environment.

Answer 6

Surface temperature

Question 7

When is a person in heat balance?

Answer 7

When the amount of heat produced by the body equals the amount of heat lost

Question 8

How is heat lost from the body?

Answer 8

Heat is lost through radiation, conduction, convection, and evaporation.

Question 9

Which age group are greatly influenced by the temperature of the environment and must be protected from extreme changes?

Answer 9

Infants

Question 10

Why are older people, particularly those over 75 years, are at risk of hypothermia?

Answer 10

Variety of reasons such as:

• Inadequate diet
• Loss of subcutaneous fat
• Lack of activity
• Reduced thermoregulatory efficiency

Question 11

The point of highest body temperature is usually reached between which time?

Answer 11

1600 and 1800 hours (4:00 PM and 6:00 PM)

Question 12

The lowest point of body temperature is reached during which time?

Answer 12

During sleep between 0400 and 0600 hours (4:00 AM and 6:00 AM)

Question 13

What is the normal range of body temperature for adults?

Answer 13

36 C and 37.5 C (96.8 F and 99.5 F)

Question 14

A body temperature above the usual range

Answer 14

Pyrexia (Hyperthermia)

Question 15

A very high fever, such as 41 C

Answer 15

Hyperpyrexia

Question 16

How do you refer a patient who has a fever?

Answer 16

Febrile

Question 17

How do you refer a patient who has no fever?

Answer 17

Afebrile

Question 18

What are the four common types of fever?

Answer 18

• Intermittent
• Remittent
• Relapsing
• Constant

Question 19

A type of fever where the body temperature alternates at regular intervals between periods of fever and periods of normal or subnormal temperatures.

Answer 19

Intermittent fever

Question 20

A type of fever where a wide range of temperature fluctuations occurs over a 24-hour period, all of which are above normal.

Answer 20

Remittent fever

Question 21

A type of fever where short febrile periods of a few days are interspersed with periods of 1 or 2 days of normal temperature.

Answer 21

Relapsing fever

Question 22

A type of fever where the body temperature fluctuates minimally but always remains above normal.

Answer 22

Constant fever

Question 23

It is a temperature that rises to fever level rapidly following a normal temperature and then returns to normal within a few hours.

Answer 23

Fever spike

Question 24

What are some conditions in which an elevated temperature is not a true fever?

Answer 24

Two examples:

1) heat exhaustion
2) heat stroke

Question 25

It is a result of excessive heat and dehydration.

Answer 25

Heat exhaustion

Question 26

People who experience this usually have a temperature of 41.1 C (106 F) or higher, and may be delirious, unconscious, or having seizures.

Answer 26

Heat stroke

Question 27

It is a core body temperature below the lower limit of normal.

Answer 27

Hypothermia

Question 28

What are the most common sites for measuring body temperature?

Answer 28

Oral, rectal, axillary, tympanic membrane, and skin/temporal artery

Question 29

The site for measuring temperature that produces temperature readings that are considered to be very accurate.

Answer 29

Rectal

Question 30

The site for measuring temperature that is often preferred for measuring temperature in newborns because it is accessible and safe.

Answer 30

Axilla

Question 31

It is a frequent site for estimating core body temperature.

Answer 31

Tympanic membrane