Medical Term Glossary- Vital Signs

Question 1

Auscultatory gap

Answer 1

a brief period when Korotkoff sounds disappear during auscultation of blood pressure; may occur with hypertension

temporary disappearance of sounds usually heard over the brachial artery, occurring when the cuff pressure is high and is gradually reduced, with the sounds again heard at a lower level of pressure (usually occurring in patients who have hypertension)

Question 2

Bradycardia

Answer 2

heart rate fewer than 50 or 60 beats per minute in the adult (depending on agency)

Question 3

Sphygmomanometer

Answer 3

instrument for measuring arterial blood pressure

Question 4

Stroke Volume

Answer 4

amount of blood pumped out of the heart with each heartbeat

Question 5

Tachycardia

Answer 5

heart rate greater then 95 beats per minute in the adult

Question 6

Antipyretic

Answer 6

a substance or procedure that reduces fever

Question 7

Apnea

Answer 7

temporary or transient cessation of breathing

Question 8

Axillary

Answer 8

pertaining to the axilla, the cavity beneath the junction of a forelimb and the body; also called the armpit or the underarm

Question 9

Brachial pulse

Answer 9

beating or throbbing felt over the brachial artery, usually palpated in the antecubital space

Question 10

Bradypnea

Answer 10

an abnormally slow respiratory rate, usually fewer than 12 breaths per minutes in an adult

Question 11

Cardiac Output

Answer 11

the amount of blood pumped into the arteries by the heart during one minute; the product of the heart rate and the stroke volume

Question 12

Core Temperature

Answer 12

the amount of heat in the deep tissues and structures of the body, such as the liver

Question 13

Diastolic pressure

Answer 13

the force exerted when the heart is at rest in between each beat; the lowest pressure exerted against the arterial walls at all times

Question 14

Dyspnea

Answer 14

the sensation of difficult or labored breathing

Question 15

Eupnea

Answer 15

normal respiration

Question 16

Febrile

Answer 16

feverish; pertaining to a fever

Question 17

Hypertension

Answer 17

a common cardiovascular disorder, often with no symptoms, in which the blood exerts an abnormal amount of force on the inside walls of the arteries persistently and blood pressure readings are persistently above 120/80 mmHg

Question 18

Hypotension

Answer 18

a condition in which blood pressure falls below the normal range; not usually considered a problem unless it causes symptoms, such as dizziness or fainting

Question 19

Korotkoff sounds

Answer 19

a series of five sounds (four sounds followed by an absence of sound) heard during the auscultatory determination of blood pressure and produced by sudden distention of the artery because of the proximally placed pneumatic cuff

Question 20

Orthopnea

Answer 20

ability to breathe without difficulty only when in an upright position (sitting upright or standing)

Question 21

Orthostatic hypertension

Answer 21

a sudden drop in blood pressure resulting from a change in position, usually when standing up from a sitting or reclining position and often causing dizziness

Question 22

Oximetry

Answer 22

determination of the oxygen saturation of arterial blood using a photoelectric device called an oximeter

Question 23

Palpation

Answer 23

the application of the fingers with light pressure to the surface of the body to determine the condition of the underlying parts

Question 24

Pulse deficit

Answer 24

the difference between the apical and the radial pulse rates. This condition may indicate a lack of peripheral perfusion for some of the heart contractions.

Question 25

Pulse pressure

Answer 25

the difference between the systolic and the diastolic blood pressures

Question 26

Radial pulse

Answer 26

beating or throbbing felt over the radial artery, usually palpated over the groove along the thumb side of the inner wrist

Question 27

S1

Answer 27

the first heart sound, heard when the atrioventricular (mitral and tricuspid) valves close

Question 28

S2

Answer 28

the second heart sound, heard when the semilunar (aortic and pulmonic) valves close

Question 29

Sims’ Position

Answer 29

a side-lying position with the lowermost arm behind the body and the uppermost leg flexed

Question 30

Stroke volume

Answer 30

the amount of blood entering the aorta with each ventricular contraction

Question 31

Systolic pressure

Answer 31

the amount of force exerted within the arteries while the heart is actively pumping or contracting; the maximum pressure exerted against the arterial walls

Question 32

Tachycardia

Answer 32

an abnormally fast pulse rate, usually above 100 beats per minutes in an adult

Question 33

Tachypnea

Answer 33

an abnormally fast respiratory rate, usually more than 20 breaths per minutes in an adult

Question 34

Tympanic

Answer 34

pertaining to the ear canal or eardrum (tympanic membrane)

Question 35

Vital Signs

Answer 35

measurements of physiological functioning, specifically temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure, but may also include pain and pulse oximetry