Chapter 18 Vitals Key Terms

Question 1

Afebrile

Answer 1

State of normal body temperature in a patient

Question 2

Apnea

Answer 2

Absence of respiration; a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops & starts; may be obstructive or central in origin

Question 3

Auscultatory Gap

Answer 3

Absence of audible sounds during blood pressure measurement that may cause inaccurate readings

Question 4

Blood Pressure

Answer 4

Force the blood exerts against the walls of the blood vessels

Question 5

Bradycardia

Answer 5

Abnormally slow heart rate (usually less than 60 beats per minute in adults)

Question 6

Bradypnea

Answer 6

Abnormally slow respiratory rate (usually less than 10 breaths per minute in adults)

Question 7

Core Temperature

Answer 7

Internal body temperature

Question 8

Diastolic Blood Pressure

Answer 8

Pressure in the blood vessels during cardiac ventricular relaxation

Question 9

Dyspnea

Answer 9

Breathing that requires marked effort

Question 10

Eupnea

Answer 10

Normal respiratory rhythm and depth

Question 11

Hypertension

Answer 11

Abnormally high blood pressure

Question 12

Hypotension

Answer 12

Abnormally low blood pressure

Question 13

Korotkoff sounds

Answer 13

Sounds heard during auscultation that indicate the systolic and diastolic blood pressure

Question 14

Paradoxical blood pressure:

Answer 14

Significant decrease in systolic blood pressure with inspiration

Question 15

Postural (orthostatic) Hypotension

Answer 15

A fall in blood pressure associated with a change in position from supine to sitting or standing

Question 16

Prehypertension

Answer 16

Blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89 for adults of any age

Question 17

Pulse deficit

Answer 17

Mathematical difference between apical and radial pulse

Question 18

Pulse Pressure

Answer 18

Mathematical difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure

Question 19

Stridor

Answer 19

A harsh inspiratory sound due to obstruction that may be compared to crowing

Question 20

Stroke Volume

Answer 20

Amount of blood ejected from each cardiac ventricle with each heart contraction

Question 21

Systolic Blood Pressure

Answer 21

Pressure in the blood vessels during cardiac ventricular contraction

Question 22

Tachycardia

Answer 22

Abnormally rapid heart rate, usually above 100 beats per minute in an adult

Question 23

Tachypnea

Answer 23

Abnormally rapid respiratory rate, usually more than 20 breaths per minute in an adult

Question 24

Tidal Volume

Answer 24

Amount of air moving in and out with each breath

Question 25

Wheezing

Answer 25

Adventitious breath sound