Vital Signs

Vital Signs is also known as the ___

What are the four critical areas

it is used with comparison for later findings

it is the balance between the heat produced by the body and the heat lost from the body

thermal units of a clinical thermometer

is is primarily produced by metabolism

it is the heat regulating center

types of body temperature

it is the thermal temperature of the deep tissues in the body

normal core temperature is between ___ inside the body

it is the temperature of the skin, subcutaneous tissue amd fat

it rises and falls in response to the environment

factors affecting body's heat production

process involved in heat loss

it is the transfer of heat from the surface of an object to the surface of another without contact between them

the transfer of heat from one surface to another requiring temperature difference between two surfaces

the dissipation of heat by air currents

the continuous vaporization of moisture from the skin, oral mucus or respiratory tract

factors affecting temperature

elder people are at risk of hypothermia due to ___

highest temperature of the day is at what time?

lowest temperature of the day is at what time?

alterations in the body temperature

body temperature above normal range

very high fever, 41 C and above

subnormal core body temperature

this may be caused by excessive heat loss, inadequate heat production or impaired hypothalamic function

types of fever

the temperature fluctuates between periods of fever and periods of normal or subnormal temperature

the temperature fluctuates within a wide range over the 24 hour period but remains above normal range

the temperature is elevated for a few days, alternated with 1 to 2 days of normal temperature

body temperature is constantly high

a temperature that rises for fever level rapidly following a normal temperature and then returns to normal within few hours

it is the sudden decline of fever, this indicates impairment of function of the hypothalamus

this is the gradual decline of fever. this indicates that the body is able to maintain homoeostasis. This is the desired decline of fever

clinical signs of fever

sites of taking body temperature

most accessible and convenient method

least desirable site for determining body temperature

it is not close to the major blood vessels and is more likely to be affected by the environmental temperature

it is the safest and most non-invasive method of temperature taking

types of thermometer

it comes in individual cases and is discarded after use

it can provide reading in only 2-60 seconds depending on the model

it is ideally suited for children because the sheath is unbreakable and the time necessary for accurate measurements is relatively short

it is usually applied on the forehead or abdomen and responds to heat by changing color

it senses body heat in the form of infrared energy given of by the body paart

it records temperature through a sensor or probe that is placed in the ear canal to detect infrared radiation from the eardrum

parts of a thermometer

calibrated in degrees centigrade or fareheit

contains liquid mercury

it expands when heated and rises in the stem

purpose of taking/measuring body temperature

from fahrenheit to centigrade

from centigrade to fahrenheit

it is a wave of blood created by contradiction of the left ventricle of the heart

the pulse rate is regulated by the ___

it measure how fast or slow the heart is beating

factors affecting the pulse rate

younger person has higher pulse rate

after puberty, females have higher pulse than males

increase metabolic rate, thereby increasing the pulse rate

digitalis, beta-blockers decrease pulse rate, epinephrine, atrophine, sulfate increase pulse rate

increase pulse rate compensatory mechanism for blood loss

sympathetic nervous stimulation increases the activity of the heart

in sitting or standing position, there is decreased venous return to the heart, decrease bp, therefore increasing pulse rate

pulse sites

the site is superior and lateral to the eye

used when radial pulse is not accesible

at the side of the neck below the lobe of the ear where the artery runs between the trachea and the sterncleidomastoid muscle

for elderly patients who may have impaired circulation

used for infants, during cardiac arrest, to determine circulation of the brain

apical pulse is also referred to as the ___

it is located at the apex of the heart

an imaginary line dropping straight down from the center of the clavicle

used for infants and children up to 3 y/o

used to determine discrepancies with radial pulse

used in conjuntions with some medications

at the inner aspect of the biceps muscle of the arm or medially in the antecubital space

elbow space

used to measure blood pressure

used during infant's cardiac arrest

where the radial artery runs along the radial bone, on the thumb side of the inner aspect of the wrist

readily accessible and routinely used

where the femoral artery passes along side the inguinal ligament approximately midway between the anterior iliac spine and the symphysis pubis in the groin area

used in cases in cardiac arrest
used for infants and children
used to determine circulation to a leg

where the popliteal artery passes behind the knee

used to determine circulation to the lower leg
used to determine leg blood pressure

on the medial surface of the ankle, where the posterior tibial artery passes behind the medial malleolus

used to determine circulation of the foot and ankle area

where the dorsalis pedis artery passes over the the bones of the foot

used to determine circulation to the foot and toe area

characters of pulse

refers to the number of beats per minute

the pattern of beats and the intervals between the beats

the irregularity in rhythm

is the force of blood with each beat

is a measure of the elasticity of the arteries

common abnormalities related to pulse rate

a rate > 100 beats per minute or more for an adult

a rate usually below 50 beats per minute

decreased regular pulse rate

described as a pulse rate that is too fast to be counted

term used for a pulse whose volume is small and can be readily obliterated

is a pulse with a very forceful beat, with the artery falling away very quickly

means one heart beat for two arterial pulsations, giving the sensation of a double beat

is the difference between the apical and readial counts taken simultaneously

refers to a pulse that occasionally skip a beat

fading away or palpable pulse

purpose of taking pulse rate