Exam 1: Vital Signs & Health History, Physical Exam Techniques Flashcards
Vital Signs
Measurement of the body’s basic or ‘vital’ functions. Includes temperature, pulse, blood pressure and respirations. Can also include pulse oximetry. Baseline vital signs refer to a person’s typical vital signs.
Hyperthermia
Body temperature greater than 38.0 C. Body temperature is higher than normal due to hot weather, infection or tissue damage.
Hypothermia
Body temperature less than 36.0 C. Body temperature is lower than normal typically caused by accidental prolonged exposure to cold. May also be purposely induced to lower the body’s oxygen demands in surgical procedures and neurologic or cardiac conditions.
Core temperature
Temperature of central circulation & organs. Ultimate goal of temperature measurement.
Three central sites for core measurement: head, chest, abdomen.
Blood Pressure
BP = PVR X CO
Peripheral Vascular Resistance (PVR)
Opposition to blood flow through the arteries.
Cardiac Output (CO)
Amount of blood pumped out of the left ventricle in one minute. Typically ~ 4 – 6 liters/minute.
CO=SV X HR
Hypotension
Low blood pressure. Typically less than 95/60 mm Hg
Hypertension
Stage I = 130 – 139/80-89 mmHg
Stage II = greater than 140 mmHg systolic and greater than 90 mmHg diastolic
Systolic pressure
Maximum pressure felt on artery during left ventricular contraction, or systole.
Diastolic pressure
Resting pressure that the blood exerts constantly between each beat.
Pulse pressure
Difference between systolic and diastolic pressure. Typically 30 – 40 mm Hg
Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)
Pressure forcing blood into the tissues averaged over the cardiac cycle. A MAP greater than 60 mmHg is necessary to maintain adequate organ and tissue perfusion.
Orthostatic Hypotension
Drop in blood pressure from sitting to standing, typically decrease of 20 mm Hg systolic and 10 mmHg diastolic with an increase in pulse; can be caused by dehydration, medications and prolonged bedrest.
Korotkoff Sounds
Sounds heard when assessing blood pressure reading described by a Russian surgeon in 1905. First Korotkoff sound = systolic pressure; Last Korotkoff sound = diastolic sound
Pulse
Stroke volume causes pressure wave which is felt in the periphery as a pulse. Normal resting heart rate for 95% of healthy adult individuals is 50– 95 beats/minute.
acts as indirect assessment of CO
Tachycardia
Generally, rapid heart rate typically defined as greater than 100 beats/minute for adults (American Heart Association)
Bradycardia
Generally, slow heart rate typically defined as less than 60 beats/minute for adults (American Heart Association). May be normal in some patients.
Apical Impulse
Refers to the apex of the heart; not considered a peripheral pulse. Found at (5) ICS, (L) MCL
Cardiac Output (CO)
Amount of blood pumped out of the left ventricle in one minute. Typically ~ 4 – 6 liters/minute.
CO=SV X HR where SV = Stroke Volume, and HR = pulse
Dysrhythmia/dysrhythmia
Any deviation from normal rhythm of the heart
Stroke Volume
Amount of blood pumped with each contraction of the left ventricle. Typically ~ 70 ml.
Tachypnea
Rapid respiratory rate greater than 24 breaths/minute
Bradypnea
Slow respiratory rate less than 10 breaths/minute
