ECG Final Exam Flashcards
What is the purpose of vital signs?
They provide data to determine a person’s state of health.
What are the vital signs?
Pulse rate, respiration, body temperature.
Why might vital signs be ordered?
- For routine patient workup
- For complaints of respiratory problems
- Variations in vital signs
- Significant changes in vital signs
What are the different methods of checking body temperature?
Mouth, rectum, armpit, ear, forehead
What are the 4 common types of thermometers?
- Electronic
- Tympanic membrane thermometer
- Temporal artery thermometer
- Chemical thermometer
How is body temperature regulated?
- Maintained by hypothalamus
- Voluntary/Involuntary muscle contractions
- Heat loss thru urine, feces, water-radiation…
Define hyperpyrexia
Body temperature of more than 41 degrees Celsius and more than 43 degrees Celsius (fatal)
Define hypothermia
Body temperature of less than 35 degrees Celsius
What common sites are used to take the pulse?
Radial site
Apical site
What causes the pulse
Blood pumped from the left ventricle which then travels from the aorta through the walls of the arterial system
What is the unit of measurement for the pulse?
beats/minute
Define pulse rhythm
time interval between heartbeats
Define normal rhythm
same interval between beats
Define dysrhythmia
irregular beats
Define thready pulse
blood volume decreases
define inhalation
causes air containing O2 to move into the lungs
define exhalation
causes air containing CO2 to be expelled
define external respiration
exchange of O2 and CO2 between alveoli and blood
define internal respiration
exchange of O2 and CO2 between body cells and blood
What is normal adult range for respiration
12-20 respiration per minute
define eupnea
normal respiration
define hyperpnea
abnormal increase in rate and depth - very deep, rapid and labored breathing
define hypopnea
abnormal decrease in rate and depth
define orhopnea
condition in which breathing is easier in a sitting/standing position
define systole
when the ventricles contract
What is systolic pressure
point of highest pressure on arterial walls
define diastole
when the heart relaxes between contractions
What is diastolic pressure?
point of lesser pressure on arterial walls
How is BP measured?
mmHg (millimeters of mercury)
