vital signs Flashcards
the act or process of breathing : the inhaling of oxygen and the exhaling
of carbon dioxide;
RESPIRATION
the process by which cells use oxygen to break down sugar and obtain
energy respiration
RESPIRATION
takes place in the lungs where CO2 is eliminated and oxygen is absorbed
by the blood.
EXTERNAL RESPIRATION OR PULMONARY RESPIRATION
contractions of the diaphragm and
external inter-costal muscles
enlarge the chest cavity, and
create a partial vacuum
Inspiration (Breathing-in Process)
relaxation of the diaphragm and
external inter-costal muscles
decreases the size of the chest
cavity and forces air out of the lungs
Expiration (Breathing-out Process)
takes place between the blood and the tissues and involves
oxygenation of cells for heat production and liberation of water waste
products.
INTERNAL RESPIRATION OR CELLULAR RESPIRATION
FACTORS AFFECTING RESPIRATION
a. emotional state
b. drugs
c. exercise
d. diseases
e. change in altitudes
f. exposure to extremes of temperature
g. mechanical interference
h. ingestion of food
- Number of respirations per minute
- Can be described as normal, rapid or slow
RESPIRATORY RATE
Normal Rate of Breathing:
Adult -___ times/min.
Infants & young children - ____ times/min.
Older children - ___ times/min.
15 to 20, 30 to 40, 20 to 25
respiratory rate of below 12
BRADYPNEA
respiratory rate of above 40
TACHYPNEA
absence of breathing for longer than 19 sec
APNEA
normal breathing
EUPNEA
the volume of air inhaled and exhaled
- described as either shallow or deep
- shallow respirations with a rapid rate occur in some disease conditions
such as high fever, shock and severe pain.
RESPIRATORY DEPTH
inspired air is way above 500 cc.
Deep respiration
inspired air is less than 500 cc.
Shallow respiration
refers to deep rapid respirations
HYPERVENTILATION
– refers to shallow respirations
HYPOVENTILATION
bluish discolorations of the skin and nail beds
- when a patient is unable to take in enough oxygen during
inhalation and due to increase of carbon dioxide in the blood
CYANOSIS
- refers to breathing patterns that differ from normal effortless breathing
- labored breathing refers to respirations that require greater effort from
the patient
RESPIRATORY QUALITY OR CHARACTER
difficulty in breathing
DYSPNEA
increased rate of respiration
POLYPNEA
fast, shallow breathing
TACHYPNEA
respiration with increased in both rate and depth
HYPERPNEA
breathing is increased in both rate and depth
HYPERVENTILATION
breathing characterized by periods
of hyperpnea, alternating with periods of apnea
CHEYNE-STOKE RESPIRATION
cessation of breathing
APNEA
breathing punctuated by frequent sighs
SIGHING RESPIRATION
noisy breathing
STERTOROUS
very deep and only slightly rapid, usually
accompanied by sighs
KUSSMAUL BREATHING
refers to the lateral pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of
arterial vessels, specifically in most cases, the brachial artery.
BLOOD PRESSURE
(highest point of pressure)
- induced by the contraction of the left ventricle
SYSTOLIC PRESSURE
( lowest point of pressure)
- corresponds to the drop of arterial pressure occurring during the
relaxation of the ventricles
DIASTOLIC PRESSURE
normal ranges of bp are less than ___ for systolic and less than ___ for diastolic
120, 80
the average arterial pressure throughout one cardiac cycle, systole, and
diastole
- influenced by cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance, each of
which is influenced by several variables
MEAN ARTERIAL PRESSURE(MAP)
the difference between your systolic and diastolic blood pressure
PULSE PRESSURE
A pulse pressure that is greater than ____ mm Hg or less than ___ mm
Hg is considered to be abnormal
50, 30
Extremes of PP can result in
stroke or shock
- the volume of blood flow from the heart through the ventricles, and is
usually measured in liters per minute (L/min) - can be calculated by the stroke volume multiplied by the heart rate
Cardiac Output
refers to compliance, which is the ability of any compartment to
expand to accommodate increased content
Peripheral Vascular Resistance
the amount of blood moving through the body
Volume of Circulating Blood
- a measure of the blood’s thickness and is influenced by the presence
of plasma proteins and formed elements in the blood.
Viscosity of Blood
refers to the capacity to resume its normal shape after stretching
and compressing
- vessels larger than 10 mm in diameter are typically elastic
Elasticity of Vessel Walls
the instrument used for measuring the pressure the blood exerts
against the walls of the artery
SPHYGMOMANOMETER
not as widely used as the aneroid version
- mercury is a toxic substance and these sphygmomanometer are
being replaced for safety reasons
- contain a column of mercury that rises as the pressure bulb is
pressed and the rubber bladder inflated
Mercury Sphygmomanometer
- a calibrated scale runs down both sides of the mercury column
- the reading is taken at eye level at the top of the mercury line
next to a calibrated scale - must be placed vertically on the wall or on a flat, level surface so
that the mercury will rise in a vertical position - periodic calibration is necessary to maintain accuracy
Mercury Sphygmomanometer
has a round dial that contains a scale calibrated in millimeters
(mm) and a needle to register the reading
- the needle must be at zero before starting the procedure
- should be recalibrated for accuracy every year
- portable
Aneroid sphygmomanometer
- relatively inexpensive and easy to use
- provides a digital readout on a lighted display, and does not require a
stethoscope
Electronic sphygmomanometer
used to measure and indicate pressure
Gauge
with inflatable bladder- contains airtight, flat, rubber
bladder covered with unyielding cloth
cuff
with pressure release valve
pumping bulb
a gadget that transmits and magnifies the sound obtaining in the body.
stethoscope
the small tips on the ends of the ear tubes that fit into your ears.
- some stethoscopes may have a choice of hard plastic or soft
Earpieces
hollow metal tubes that connect to the acoustic tubes on one end
and the earpieces on the other
Ear tube
the soft flexible line of the stethoscope
- the purpose is to maintain and transfer the frequency/sound level
that is captured by the diaphragm or bell and send it to the ear
tubes where it can make its way to the users ears
- .depending on the stethoscopes make and model the tubing may be
made with a single tube or dual lumen tube design that connects to
the metal/steel ear tubes.
Tubing
- the combined components of the upper half of the stethoscope
which include the ear tubes, tension springs and earpieces - allows sound to flow efficiently into the ear canal so that their is
minimal disturbance from the stethoscope.
Headset
basically the metal /steel part of the stethoscope that connects the
stethoscopes tubing to the chest piece
- aside from connecting the two components of the stethoscope it also
allows the user to switch / click between the chest pieces diaphragm
and bell by turning the chest piece and clicking it into place via the
ball bearing.
stem
composed of the connected stem, diaphragm and/or bell
- depending on the stethoscope it may feature either a single-head or
dual head design that may or may not contain a lower-frequency bell
Chest piece (head of the stethoscope)
the large circular end of the chest-piece
- allows medical professionals to listen to a wider area of the
patients body and picks up higher frequency sounds than the bell
half of the chest-piece
Diaphragm
the smaller circular end of the chest-piece
- focuses on a narrower range listens for lower-frequency sounds
that may not easily be detected by the diaphragm
bell
the sounds of blood flow through the artery as you are listening to blood pressure
KOROTKOFF SOUNDS
