Peripheral Vessels

• major artery that supplies blood to the arm is the

  brachial artery
• the popliteal artery can be palpated at the

  knee
• the posterior tibial pulse can be palpated at the

  ankle
• blood from the lower trunk and legs drains upward into the inferior vena cava. The percentage of the body's blood volume that is contained in the veins is nearly


  70%
• The nurse is planning to perform the Trendelenburg test on an adult client. The nurse should explain to the client that this test is used to determine the

  competence of the saphenous vein valves
• Deficient supply of oxygenated arterial blood to a tissue; caused by obstruction of a blood vessel


  ischemia
• Swollen, distended, and knotted veins; occur most commonly in the legs

  varicose veins
• Usually occur on tips of toes, metatarsal heads, and lateral malleoli; ulcers have pale ischemic base, well-defined edges, and no bleeding

  arterial ulcer
• Swelling caused by excess fluid


  edema
• Usually occur on medial malleoli; ulcers have bleeding uneven edges

  venous ulcer
• The time it takes for color to return to the nail beds after they have been blanched by pressure; a good measure of peripheral perfusion and cardiac output

  capillary refill time
• Rigid peripheral blood vessels; occurs more commonly in older adults

  arteriosclerosis
• Used to detect a weak peripheral pulse to monitor blood pressure in infants or children and to measure blood pressure in a lower extremity; it magnifies pulse sounds from the heart and blood vessels

  Doppler ultrasound probe
• Inflammation of a vein associated with thrombus formation

  Thrombophlebitis
• Diffuse enlargement of terminal phalanges

  clubbing
• Determines the patency of the radial and ulnar arteries


  allen test
• A vasospastic disorder, primarily affects the hands, characterized by color change from pallor, to cyanosis, to rubor; attacks precipitated by cold or emotional upset and relieved by warmth


  raynaud disease
• While assessing the peripheral vascular system of an adult client, the nurse detects cold clammy skin and loss of hair on the client's legs. The nurse suspects that the client may be experiencing:

  arterial insufficiency
• During a physical examination, the nurse detects warm skin and brown pigmentation around an adult client's ankles. The nurse suspects that the client may be experiencing

  venous insufficiency
• The nurse is assessing the peripheral vascular system of an older adult client. The client tells the nurse that her legs "seem cold all the time and sometimes feel tingly." The nurse suspects that the client may be experiencing:

  intermittent claudication
• The nurse is caring for a client who is employed as a typist and has a family history of peripheral vascular disease. The nurse should instruct the client to reduce her risk factors by:

  getting regular exercise
• The nurse is preparing to use a Doppler ultrasound probe to detect blood flow in the femoral artery of an adult client. The nurse should:


  apply gel used for ECG to the client's skin.
• A client visits the clinic and tells the nurse that she had a mastectomy 2 years ago. The nurse should assess the client for

  lymphedema
• After palpating the radial pulse of an adult client, the nurse suspects arterial insufficiency. The nurse should next assess the client's

  popliteal pulse
• The nurse is preparing to palpate the epitrochlear lymph nodes of an adult male client. The nurse should instruct the client to:

  flex his elbow about 90 degrees
• While inspecting the skin color of a male client's legs, the nurse observes that the client's legs are slightly cyanotic while he is sitting on the edge of the examination table. The nurse should refer the client to a physician for possible

  arterial insufficiency
• While assessing the inguinal lymph nodes in an older adult client, the nurse detects that the lymph nodes are approximately 3 cm in diameter, nontender, and fixed. The nurse should refer the client to a physician because these findings are generally associated with:

  malignancy