Vital Signs

Question 1

vital signs

Answer 1

clinical measurements that include blood pressure, pulse, body temperature, respiration, oxygen saturation

Question 2

blood pressure

Answer 2

measurement of the amount of pressure exerted by the blood within the circulatory system; measured in mmHg and expressed as systolic over diastolic

Question 3

systole

Answer 3

the maximum amount of pressure exerted when the heart contracts and forces blood into the aorta

Question 4

diastolic

Answer 4

the minimum amount of pressure exerted when the heart is relaxing

Question 5

what is blood pressure a direct measure of?

Answer 5

cardiac output, blood volume, blood viscosity, vascular elasticity, degree of peripheral vascular resistance

Question 6

cardiac output

Answer 6

the amount of blood pumped into the circulatory system by the heart within one minute (product stroke volume and HR)

Question 7

stroke volume

Answer 7

the amount of blood ejected by one ventricle during one heart contraction

Question 8

increase in cardiac output results in an increase of what?

Answer 8

blood pressure (vice versa). Therefore decrease of SV or HR equals decrease in BP, vice versa

Question 9

peripheral vascular resistance

Answer 9

the ability of the vessels to accommodate increased blood flow without also increasing resistance or blood pressure

Question 10

contractibility

Answer 10

ability to contract efficiently. A decrease in contractibility>decrease in CO>decrease in BP

Question 11

preload

Answer 11

amount of blood inside the ventricles before they contract

Question 12

afterload

Answer 12

amount of resistance or constriction that the heart must overcome to eject the blood into the systemic circuit

Question 13

An increase afterload results in what common health problem?

Answer 13

hypertension

Question 14

sphygmomanometer

Answer 14

instrument used to measure arterial blood pressure

Question 15

Korotkoff sounds

Answer 15

a series sounds created by movement of blood through a partially compressed vessel during a manual BP

Question 16

hypertension

Answer 16

blood pressure that is above the expected reference range (most common)

Question 17

hypotension

Answer 17

blood pressure that is below the expected reference range

Question 18

orthostatic hypotension

Answer 18

drop in blood pressure that occurs when a client rises to a sitting or standing position

Question 19

pulse

Answer 19

rhythmic dilation of the arteries and pulsation of blood flow that occurs with each contraction of the left ventricle

Question 20

tachycardia

Answer 20

heart rate above expected reference range (higher than 100)

Question 21

arrhythmia

Answer 21

irregular heartbeat rhythm

Question 22

Doppler ultrasound stethoscope

Answer 22

a stethoscope fitted with audio unit with transducer that amplifies vascular or other sounds of body ; used to find nonpalpable difficult pulses

Question 22

pulse deficit

Answer 22

difference between the apical and peripheral pulse in 1 min

Question 23

body temperature

Answer 23

the measurement of the balance of heat produced by the body and the heat lost to the environment (degrees)

Question 24

hyperthermia

Answer 24

uncontrolled elevation in body temperature where the body cannot lose heat as fast as it gained; caused by environmental or metabolic factors

Question 24

hypothermia

Answer 24

decrease in core body temperature due to extended exposure to cold or the inability of the body to produce heat

Question 25

what are the 4 stages of hypertension

Answer 25

elevated: 120-129/80
stage 1: 130-139/80-89
stage 2: 140+/90+
crisis: 180+/120+

Question 26

what values signifies hypotension

Answer 26

less than 90/60

Question 27

what is the average body temperature?

Answer 27

96.8-100.4

Question 28

eupnea

Answer 28

respiratory rate that is within expected range

Question 29

tachypnea

Answer 29

respiratory rate that is higher than the expected reference range

Question 30

apnea

Answer 30

absence of spontaneous respirations

Question 31

oxygen saturation

Answer 31

the estimated amount of oxygen bound to the hemoglobin molecule in red blood cells

Question 32

dyspnea

Answer 32

the sensation of difficult or labored breathing

Question 33

hypoxia

Answer 33

when not enough oxygen is being supplied to body’s tissues