5 - Vital Signs

• What does "afebrile" mean?

  Body temperature is not elevated
• What is an antipyretic?

  Agent that reduces fever
• Where is the apical or mitral area located?

  5th intercostal space, left mid-clavicular line
• What does "apnea" refer to?

  Absence of breathing
• What characterizes Biot's respirations?

  Varying depth and rate of breathing with apnea
• What is bradycardia?

  Heart rate less than 60 beats per minute
• What does bradypnea indicate?

  Respiratory rate less than 10 breaths per minute
• What are Cheyne-Stokes respirations?

  Deep, rapid breathing followed by apnea
• What is diastolic pressure?

  Lowest pressure on arterial walls when heart rests
• What does dyspnea mean?

  Difficult or labored breathing
• What is dysrhythmia?

  Abnormal cardiac rhythm
• What does eupnea refer to?

  Normal respirations
• What is evaporation in terms of heat dissipation?

  Transformation of water to a gas
• What does febrile mean?

  Body temperature is elevated
• What is considered a high-grade fever?

  Fever over 41° C (105.8° F)
• What is hyperpyrexia?

  Fever over 41° C (105.8° F)
• What is conduction in terms of heat transfer?

  Transfer of heat through direct contact
• What is constant fever?

  Consistently high temperature with little fluctuation
• What does convection refer to?

  Dissipation of heat by air currents
• What is core body temperature?

  Temperature of deep tissues of the body
• What is hypertension?

  Blood pressure elevated above normal
• What does hyperventilation consist of?

  Increased respiratory rate and chest wall movement
• What is hypotension?

  Blood pressure below normal
• What is the hypothalamus known as?

  The body's thermostat
• What does hypothermia indicate?

  Body temperature reduced below normal range
• What is hypoventilation?

  Decreased respiratory rate and chest wall movement
• What is intermittent fever?

  Temperature rises above normal at times
• What are Korotkoff sounds?

  Sounds corresponding to blood flow changes
• What is low-grade fever?

  Fever between 37.1° C to 38.2° C
• What does orthopnea mean?

  Ability to breathe only when upright
• What is orthostatic hypotension?

  Blood pressure decreases upon standing
• What is pulse?

  Throbbing sensation felt over a peripheral artery
• What is pulse amplitude?

  Force of the perceptible throbbing sensation
• What is pulse deficit?

  Difference between apical and radial pulse rates
• What is pulse pressure?

  Difference between systolic and diastolic pressures
• What is remittent fever?

  Temperature always above normal but fluctuates
• What is surface body temperature?

  Temperature of the surface of the body
• What is systolic pressure?

  Highest pressure during heart contraction
• What does tachypnea indicate?

  Respiratory rate greater than 24 breaths per minute
• What is tachycardia?

  Heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute