Chapter 10: Vital Signs

Question 1

vital signs include:

Answer 1

temperature, respiratory rate, pulse, and blood pressure

Question 2

where is the feedback mechanism regulated?

Answer 2

hypothalamus

Question 3

what can normal temperature be influenced by?

Answer 3

-Diurnal cycle of 1° F to 1.5° F, with trough occurring in early
morning hours and peak occurring in late afternoon to early evening
-Menstruation cycle in women: progesterone secretion, occurring with ovulation at midcycle, causes a 0.5° F to 1.0° F rise in temperature that continues until menses
-Exercise: moderate to hard exercise increases body
temperature
-Age: wider normal variations occur in infant and young child due to less effective heat control mechanisms; in older adults, temperature usually lower than in other age groups, with a mean of 36.2° C (97.2° F)

Question 4

temperature is important for?
how does the body maintain steady temperature?

Answer 4

Cellular metabolism
-feedback mechanism
-Balances heat production with heat loss

Question 5

bradycardia vs tachycardia

Answer 5

less than 60 bpm is bradycardia
over 100 bpm, is tachycardia

Question 6

cardio output equation

Answer 6

Cardiac Output = Stroke volume x Heart rate

Question 7

Sinus dysrhythmia

Answer 7

one irregularity commonly found in children and young adults
* Heart rate varies with respiratory cycle, speeding up at peak of inspiration and slowing to normal with expiration

Question 8

pulse force scale

Answer 8

3+ Full, bounding
* 2+ Normal
* 1+ Weak, thready
* 0 Absent

Question 9

Systolic pressure (SBP)

Answer 9

maximum pressure felt on artery during left ventricular contraction, or systole

Question 10

Diastolic pressure (DBP)

Answer 10

elastic recoil, or resting, pressure that blood exerts constantly between each contraction

Question 11

pulse pressure

Answer 11

difference between systolic and diastolic
* Reflects stroke volume

Question 11

MAP

Answer 11

Mean arterial pressure, average over cardiac cycle
MAP = 1/3 SBP + 2/3 DBP

Question 11

level of BP determined by 5 factors

Answer 11

-Cardiac output
-Peripheral vascular resistance
 Volume of circulating blood
 Viscosity
 Elasticity of vessel walls

Question 11

thigh pressure

Answer 11

-When BP measured at arm is excessively high, compare it with thigh pressure to check for coarctation of aorta
-Particularly in adolescents and young adults
-Normally thigh pressure higher than that in arm
-If possible, turn person to prone position on abdomen.
-Wrap large cuff around lower third of thigh, centered over popliteal artery on back of the knee
-Normally systolic value is 10 to 40 mm Hg higher in thigh than in arm, and diastolic pressure is same.

Question 12

when counting pulse rate and respirations on an infant or child,

Answer 12

count for a full minute

Question 13

true or false: In children, height more strongly correlated with BP than age

Answer 13

true

Question 14

older people are less likely to have a fever but

Answer 14

greater risk for hypothermia