CH 13: Vital Signs and Monitoring Devices

Question 1

auscultation

Answer 1

listening. A stethoscope is used to auscultate for characteristic sounds.

Question 2

blood pressure

Answer 2

the force of blood against the walls of the blood vessels.

Question 3

blood pressure

Answer 3

monitor a machine that automatically inflates a blood pressure cuff and measures blood pressure.

Question 4

brachial artery

Answer 4

the major artery of the arm.

Question 5

brachial pulse

Answer 5

the pulse felt in the upper arm.

Question 6

bradycardia

Answer 6

a slow pulse; any pulse rate below 60 beats per minute.

Question 7

carotid

Answer 7

pulse the pulse felt along the large carotid artery on either side of the neck.

Question 8

constrict

Answer 8

get smaller

Question 9

diastolic

Answer 9

blood pressure the pressure remaining in the arteries when the left ventricle of the heart is relaxed and refilling

Question 10

dilate

Answer 10

get larger.

Question 11

oxygen saturation (SpO2)

Answer 11

the ratio of the amount of oxygen present in the blood to the amount that could be carried, expressed as a percentage.

Question 12

palpation

Answer 12

touching or feeling. A pulse or blood pressure may be palpated with the fingertips.

Question 13

pulse

Answer 13

the rhythmic beats felt as the heart pumps blood through the arteries.

Question 14

pulse oximeter

Answer 14

an electronic device for determining the amount of oxygen carried in the blood, known as the oxygen saturation or SpO2.

Question 15

pulse quality

Answer 15

the rhythm (regular or irregular) and force (strong or weak) of the pulse.

Question 16

pulse rate

Answer 16

the number of pulse beats per minute.

Question 17

pupil

Answer 17

the black center of the eye.

Question 18

radial

Answer 18

pulse the pulse felt at the wrist.

Question 19

reactivity

Answer 19

in the pupils of the eyes, reacting to light by changing size.

Question 20

respiration

Answer 20

the act of breathing in and breathing out.

Question 21

respiratory rate

Answer 21

quality the normal or abnormal (shallow, labored, or noisy) character of breathing.

Question 22

respiratory rhythm

Answer 22

the regular or irregular spacing of breaths.

Question 23

sphygmomanometer

Answer 23

the cuff and gauge used to measure blood pressure.

Question 24

systolic blood pressure

Answer 24

the pressure created when the heart contracts and forces blood out into the arteries.

Question 25

tachycardia

Answer 25

a rapid pulse; any pulse rate above 100 beats per minute, for an adult.

Question 26

vital signs

Answer 26

outward signs of what is going on inside the body, including respiration; pulse; skin color, temperature, and condition (plus capillary refill in infants and children); pupils; and blood pressure.