Vital Signs Terminolgy

Question 1

Afebrile

Answer 1

Without fever

Apyretic

Question 2

FUO

Answer 2

Fever of Unknown Origin

Question 3

Apical Pulse

Answer 3

A pulse felt or heard over the part of the chest wall that lies over the apex of the heart
Locates at the L midclavicular line and 5th intercostal space

Question 4

Hypertension

Answer 4

High blood pressure

BP is higher than 140 mmHg systolic or 90mmHg diastolic

Question 5

Blood Pressure

Answer 5

Tension exerted on the walls of arteries by the strength of the contraction of heart etc

Question 6

Hyperthermia

Answer 6

An unusually high fever

Question 7

Bradycardia

Answer 7

Abnormal rate below 60 BPM

Question 8

Hypotension

Answer 8

A decrease of the systolic and diastolic bp to below normal

Question 9

Bradypnea

Answer 9

Rate is regular but less than 12 BPM

Question 10

Tachypnea

Answer 10

Rate is regular but more than 20 BPM

Question 11

Hyperpnea

Answer 11

Respirations labored

Increase depth, increase rate greater than 20

Question 12

Apnea

Answer 12

Respirations cease for several seconds

Persistent cessation –respiratory arrest

Question 13

Hyperventilation

Answer 13

Rate and depth of respirations increase

Hyocarbia may occur

Question 14

Hypocarbia

Answer 14

Increase in CO2 when not breathing

Question 15

Hypoventilation

Answer 15

Rate low, depth depresses

Hypocarbia may occur

Question 16

Tachycardia

Answer 16

Abnormal rate above 100 BPM

Question 17

Hypothermia

Answer 17

Core body temp below normal diurinal range due to failure of thermoregulation

Question 18

Cardiac Output

Answer 18

The amount of blood discharged from the left or right ventricle/min
CO=SVxHR

Question 19

Celsius

Answer 19

Temp scale on which boiling point of water is 100 degrees and freezing is 0

Question 20

Diaphoresis

Answer 20

Profuse sweating

Question 21

JVD, NVD

Answer 21

Jugular Venous Distention / Neck Vein Distention Bulging neck vein-external jugular vein
Sign of increased central venous pressure, sym of many cardiovascular problems

Question 22

Diastolic BP

Answer 22

Bp when the ventricles of heart filling with blood

~60-80 mm Hg

Question 23

Dyspnea

Answer 23

Labored, difficulty breathing

Question 24

Fahrenheit

Answer 24

A thermometric scale used by English speaking countries boiling point 212 degrees freezing 32 degrees

Question 25

Febrile

Answer 25

Pertaining to fever