Clinical Skills Flashcards
Where is the temporal pulse?
Above and towards outside of eyes
Where is the carotid pulse?
Side of neck
Where is the brachial pulse?
Inner side of biceps
Where is the radial pulse?
Inner rist under line of thumb
Where is the femoral pulse?
Near pelvic bone
Where is the popliteal pulse?
Behind knee
Where is the posterior tibial pulse?
Lower limb
Where is the dorsalis pedis pulse?
Over the instep of the foot
What is the normal female, non-pregnant heart rate?
65-85 bpm
What is tachycardia and what is the rate?
Abnormally rapid heart and pulse, typically over 100 bpm
What is bradycardia and what is the rate?
Abnormally slow heart and pulse rate, typically below 50-60bpm
In pregnancy maternal heart rate increases. When? and by how much?
by 32 weeks gestation it is increased by 10-20 ppm. Returns to pre-pregnancy rate by term
Define ‘rate’
at what speed the heart is beating (bpm)
Define ‘rhythm’
assessing the pattern of pulsations and the pauses between them provides information about the heart rhythm - ‘regular’, ‘regularly irregular’, ‘irregularly irregular’
Define ‘amplitude’
a reflection of pulse strength and the elasticity of the arterial wall. It is a description of how the pulse feels - ‘weak’, ‘faint’, ‘strong’ or ‘bounding’
Factors influencing increased heart rate
emotion, infection, shock, pain, exercise, pregnancy and labour
Factors influencing decreased heart rate
rest, injury, age, fitness
Define blood pressure
The force exerted by the blood on the blood vessel walls
Blood pressure varies within different blood vessels. Highest in those close to the heart. True or False?
True
What is the systolic rate of blood pressure?
- The pressure exerted on blood vessel walls following ventricular systole
- The arteries contain the most blood at this time
- Time of maximum pressure
What is the diastolic rate of blood pressure?
- The pressure exerted on blood walls following ventricular diastole
- The artery contain the least blood at this time
- Time of least pressure
What is the normal value of blood pressure in a healthy human?
100-120/60-80 mmHg
Factors affecting blood pressure..
blood volume, heart rate, disease, pain, weight, talking, alcohol, smoking, diet, stress, exercise, full bladder, season, pregnanyc
What is the normal respiratory rate?
12-18 per minute
Define tachypnoea
Increased respiration rate above 20 per min
Define bradypnoea
Decreased respiration rate below 12 per min
Define dysponea
Difficulty breathing
