Chapter 4 - Vital Signs Flashcards
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afebrile (uh-FEB-ril)
without fever; the body is normal temperature
antecubital (AN-tih-CYOO-bi-tul) space
thin-walled air sacs of the lungs in which exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes places
antipyetic (AN-tih-pye-REH-tik)
an agent that reduces fever
aorta (ay-OR-tuh)
The major trunk of the arterial system of the body. Aorta arises from the upper surface of the left ventricle
apical-radical pulse
comparison of a person’s apical pulse and radial pulse to determine how well blood is flowing from the heart to the rest of the body
bardycardia (BRAY-dee-CAR-dee-uh)
an abnormally slow heart rate (less than 60 beats per min)
bardypnea (BRAY-dip-NEE-uh)
An abnormal decrease in the respiratory rate of less than 10 respirations per min
crisis
A sudden falling of an elevated body temp to normal
cyanosis (sye-an-OH-sus)
A bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes
diastole(dye-AS-toh-lee)
The phase in the cardiac cycle in which the heart relaxes between contractions
diastolic (DYE-uh-STOL-ik) pressure
The point of lesser pressure on the arterial wall, which is recorded during diastole
dyspnea (DISP-nee-uh)
Shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing
dysrhythmia (dis-RITH-mee-uh)
An irregular rhythm; also termed arrhythmia
eupnea (YOOP-nee-uh)
Normal respiration. 16-20 res per min
febrile (FEH-bril)
pertaining to fever
fever
A body temp above normal; synonym for pyrexia
frenulum linguae (FREN-yoo-lum LIN-gway)
The midline that connects the undersurface of the tongue with the floor of the mouth
hyperpnea breathing
An abnormal increase in the rate and depth of respiration
hyperpyrexia (HYE-per-pye-REK-see-uh)
An extremely high fever
hyperventilation
An extremely fast and deep type of breathing, usually associated with acute anxiety conditions
hypopnea
An abnormal decrease in the rate and depth of respiration
hypotension
Low blood pressure
hypothermia
A body temperature that’s below normal
hypoxemia (hye-pok-SEE-nee-uh)
A decrease in the oxygen saturation of the blood. May lead to hypoxia
hypoxia
A reduction in the oxygen supply to the tissues of the body
inhalation
The act of breathing in
intercostal
Between the ribs
Korotkoff (kuh-ROT-kof) sounds
Sounds heard during the measurement of BP test that are used to determine the systolic and diastolic BP readings
malaise (mal-AYZE)
A vague sense of body discomfort, weakness, and fatigue that often marks the onset of a disease and continues through the course of illness
orthopnea (orth-OP-nee-uh)
The condition in which breathing is easier when an individual is in a sitting or standing position
pulse oximeter
A computerized device consisting of a probe and a monitor used to measure the oxygen saturation of arterial blood
pulse oximetrey
The use of a pulse oximeter to measure the oxygen saturation of arterial blood
radiation
The transfer of energy, such as heat, in forms of waves
SaO2 (saturation of arterial oxygen)
Abbreviation for the percentage of hemoglobin that is saturated with oxygen in arterial blood
SpO2 (saturation of peripheral oxygen)
Abbreviation for the percentage of hemoglobin that is saturated with oxygen in arterial blood as measured by a pulse oximeter
sphygmomanometer (SFIG-moe-man-OM-uh-ter)
An instrument used for measuring arterial BP
systolic (sis-TOL-ik) pressure
The point of maximum pressure on the arterial walls, which is recorded during systole
systole (SIS-toh-lee)
The phase in the cardiac cycle in which the ventricles contract, sending blood out of the heart and into the aorta and pulmonary pulse
tachycardia (TAK-ih-KAR-dee-uh)
An abnormally fast heart rate (more than 100 beats per min)
tachypnea (TAK-ip-NEE-uh)
An abnormal increase in the respiratory system of more than 20 breaths per min
