| apical pulse | heartbeat as measured with the bell or disk of the stethoscope placed over the apex of heart; represents the actual beating of the heart |
| auscultate | to listen for sounds within the body to evaluate the condition of the heart, lungs, pleura, intestines, or other organs or to detect fatal heart sounds |
| blood pressure | pressure exerted by the circulating volume of the blood on the arterial walls, veins, & the chambers of the heart |
| bradycardia | slow cardiac rhythm characterized by a pulse rate <60 beats/min |
| bradypnea | a slow respiratory rate of <12 breaths/ minute |
| Cheyne-Stokes respiration | an abnormal pattern of respiration characterized by alternating periods of apnea(repeatedly stops & starts) & deep, rapid breathing |
| diastolic pressure | second number recorded in the blood pressure reading; represents the minimum level of blood pressure measured between the contractions of the heart |
| dyspnea | shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing; may be caused by disturbance in the lungs, certain heart conditions, & hemoglobin deficiency |
| dysrhythmia | any disturbance or abnormality in a normal rhythmic pattern, specifically irregularity in the normal rhythm of the heart |
| febrile | body temperature above normal |
| hypertension | occurs when the elevated blood pressure is above normal |
| hyperthermia | condition of abnormally high body temperature |
| hypotension | occurs when the blood pressure is below normal |
| hypothermia | condition of abnormally low body temperature |
| korotkoff sounds | sounds heard while measuring blood pressure when sphygmomanometer & stethoscope |
| orthostatic hypotension | a drop of 25 mm Hg in systolic pressure and a drop of 10 mm Hg in diastolic pressure when moving from a lying to sitting position |
| oxygen saturation | measurement of how much oxygen has combined with hemoglobin in the red blood cells |
| pulse | a rhythmic beating or vibrating movement; regular recurrent expansion and contraction of an artery produces by waves of pressure caused by the ejection of blood from the left ventricle of the heart as it contracts |
| pulse deficit | a condition that exists when the radial pulse rate is less than the ventricular rate as auscultated at the apex of the heart |
| pulse oximeter | device used to measure oxygen saturation |
| pulse pressure | difference between the systolic and diastolic blood pressure, usually 30 to 40 mm Hg |
| respirations | the taking in of oxygen, its use in the tissues, and the giving off carbon oxide; the act of breathing inhaling and exhaling |
| systolic | the number or reading that represents ventricles contracting, forcing the blood into the aorta and pulmonary arteries |
| tachycardia | an abnormal condition in which the myocardium contracts regularly but at rate greater than 100 beats/minute |
| tachypnea | an abnormal rapid rate of breathing |
| vital signs | measurement of temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure |
| normal temperature | 97 to 99.6 fahrenheit |
| oral temperature | 98.6 |
| rectal temperature | 99.6 |
| axillary temperature | 97.6 |
| temporal temperature | 98.6 |
| tympanic temporal | 98.6 |
| core temperature | temperature of the deep tissues of the body |
| surface temperature | temperature of the skin |
| body temperature falls into 2 categories: | core temperature and surface temperature |
| factors that affect body temperature | age, exercise, hormonal influences, diurnal (daily) variations, stress, environment, smoking, ingestion of food and hot and cold liquids |
| fever temperature | > 100.4 indicated infection or an illness |
| constant | fevers remain elevated consistently and fluctuate very little |
| intermittent | fever rise and fall, temperature normal in the morning and in the afternoon elevated |
| remittent | fever rise and fall does not return to normal until patient is well |
| factors that influence pulse rates | acute pain, anxiety, age, exercise, fever, heat, hemorrhage, medications, metabolism, postural changes, pulmonary conditions, chronic pain, dehydration, fluid volume excess |
| major pulses site | temporal, carotid, brachial, radial, apical, femoral, popliteal, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis |
| normal pulse range | 60-100 beats/minute |
| average pulse | 80 |
| external respiration | breathing movements that are observable |
| cycle of external respiration: | inspiration and expiration |
| inspiration | inhaling air with oxygen into the lungs |
| expiration | exhaling air with carbon dioxide out of the lungs |
| normal respiration range | 12-20 respirations per minute |
| normal oxygen saturation | 95% to 100% |
