Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Medical Terminology > Vital Signs > Flashcards

Vital Signs Flashcards

1
Q

vital signs

A

objective measurements like temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygenation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

temperature

A

-reported in C or F
-measured with thermometer at specific sites like under tongue, armpit, ear canal, and rectum
-normal adult temperature is 37 C and 98.6 F

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

hypothermia

A

condition of low temperature (<35 C)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

normothermia

A

condition of normal temperature

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

hyperthermia

A

condition of high temperature (>38 C)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

thermoregulation

A

maintenance of body temperature

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

heart rate

A

-reported in beats per minute
-measured by: pulse oximeter on distal finger tip, electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG), felt and counted by hand for 1 min at pulse sites, and auscultated and counted for 1 min with stethoscope
-normal adult heart rate: 60-100 beats per min

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

tachycardia

A

condition of fast heart rate (>100bpm)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

bradycardia

A

condition of slow heart rate (<60bpm)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

arrhythmia/dysrhythmia

A

condition of abnormal heart rhythm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

heart rate pulse sites

A

temporal, FEMORAL, popliteal, posterior tibial, CAROTID, BRACHIAL, RADIAL, and dorsalis pedis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

pulse measurement rate

A

-0=absent
-1+=thready/weak
-2+=normal pulse
-3+=bounding

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

blood pressure

A

-reported as systolic blood pressure (SBP)/diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in millimeters of mercury (mmHg)
-measured with sphygmomanometer (BP cuff) at brachial site
-can be taken manually with stethoscope and BP cuff or electronically
-normal adult blood pressure:
SBP: 100-140 mmHg
DBP: 60-90 mmHG
MAP: >65

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

hypotension

A

low blood pressure (<100/60)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

hypertension

A

high blood pressure (>140/90)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

normotensive

A

normal blood pressure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

MAP

A

mean arterial pressure (2(DBP+SBP)/3)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

respiratory rate

A

-reported in breaths per minute
-measured: observing chest fall and rise for 1 min, auscultation with stethoscope and count rate for 1 min
-can assess rhythm (regular/irregular) and quality (shallow/deep)
-normal adult respiratory rate: 12-20 breaths per minute

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

-pnea

A

breathing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

spir/o

A

breathing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

tachypneic/tachypnea

A

condition of rapid breathing (>20 bpm)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

bradypneic/bradypnea

A

condition of slow breathing (<12 bpm)

23
Q

hypoventilation/hyperventilation

A

pertaining to amount of ventilation of lungs (too little/too much)

24
Q

oxygenation saturation

A

-fraction of oxygen-saturated hemoglobin relative to total hemoglobin
-reported as a percentage out of 100
-important to note if on oxygen while obtaining measurement
-measured with pulse oximeter on distal finger tip
-normal adult oxygenation level:
>94% normally but 89-92% in chronic lung disease patients

25
ox/o
oxygen
26
-oxia
oxygen
27
hypoxia
low/deficient oxygen in the tissues
28
hypoxemia
low oxygen in the blood
29
anoxia
without oxygen
30
inspection
-observations of patient throughout interview/exam -general appearance, mental status, posture, skin color/deformities, body language, gait
31
palpation
-use pads of fingers for light and/or deep palpation -useful to determine: location of organs/structures/masses, size, texture, temperature, tenderness
32
percussion
-utilizing your finger to tap a portion of the body -to assess underlying tissue/structure for presence of fluid/air -sound differences helps you compare what medium the sound is traveling through
33
auscultation
-listening to sounds of specific body areas (heart, blood vessels, lungs/airway, abdomen/bowels) -done by using a stethoscope -can help determine normal vs. abnormal sounds via comparison with other areas of the organ
34
review of system (nervous system)
-changes in memory -mood changes -dizziness -loss of balance -falls -tingling -numbness
35
physical exam (nervous system)
-level of consciousness (alert, lethargic, unconscious) -orientation (alert and oriented x3: person, place, time) -remote memory/recent memory -thought content -mood -balance/coordination -gait
36
review of system (cardiovascular system)
-chest pain -palpitations -leg swelling -unhealing sores/lesions on legs -hair loss on legs -noticeable veins on legs
37
physical exam (cardiovascular system)
-inspect for limb swelling (edema), color, venous patterns -palpation of pulses bilaterally -auscultation of heart sounds (abnormal rate/rhythm, murmurs, extra beats, distant?)
38
review of system (pulmonary system)
-shortness of breath (at rest vs. on exertion) -pain with inspiration -cough (dry vs. wet) -wheezing
39
physical exam (pulmonary system)
-inspect work of breathing (posture, flaring nostrils) -able to complete a full sentence -cough -palpation of air pockets trapped under skin -auscultate lung sounds (compare bilaterally, increased/decreased breath sounds, unequal breath sounds, absent breath sounds?)
40
review of system (gastrointestinal system)
-abdominal pain -heartburn -nausea/vomiting -constipation/diarrhea -changes in stool color
41
physical exam (gastrointestinal system)
-inspect abdomen size, contours, scars -auscultate bowel sounds (compare 4 quadrants for increased/decreased sounds, unequal sounds, and absent sounds) -percuss to measure size of lives/spleen -palpate for masses/fluid/tenderness (light vs. deep, guarding, rebound tenderness)
42
review of system (genitourinary system)
-changes in urine color -changes in urine frequency -changes in urine amount -increased urgency -pee in the middle of the night -pelvic pain/flank pain/lower back pain -reproductive system assessment if needed
43
physical exam (genitourinary system)
-inspect for pelvic distension -inspect for abnormal changes to genito-urethral area -palpate flanks and lower back -percuss on back bilaterally
44
review of system (musculoskeletal system)
-muscle cramps -muscle weakness -joint pain/stiffness -limited mobility -trouble walking -injuries
45
physical exam (musculoskeletal system)
-inspect for swelling, deformities, symmetry, atrophy -palpate for deformities, temperature, tenderness -assess range of motion (active vs. passive)
46
review of system (integumentary system)
-dry skin -itchy skin -rashes/lesions/sores/bumps -bruises (provoked) -changes in mole size/characteristics -changes in hair/nails
47
physical exam (integumentary system)
-inspect skin throughout body for lesions, bruises, abnormalities -inspect mucous membranes -inspect nails -palpate for moisture, temperature, texture, turgor (ability for skin to return to place freely)
48
review of system (eyes)
-blurry vision/changes in vision -pain -watering/redness/itching
49
physical exam (eyes)
-inspect: eyelids enophthalmos/exophthalmos color of conjunctiva/sclera pupils (equality, size, shape, reaction to light) visual acuity extraocular movements
50
enophthalmos
inward eye sockets
51
exophthalmos
outward eye sockets (protruding eye)
52
review of system (ears)
-ringing in ears (tinnitus) -changes in your hearing -pain your ears
53
physical exam (ears)
-inspect: outer ears, middle, and inner ear (via otoscope) auditory acuity -palpate external ears, mastoid process, tragus (for tenderness, masses, bruising)

Medical Terminology (42 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions