afebrile
Without fever
antipyretic
Pertaining to a substance, such as a medication, that reduces fever
apical pulse
Measurement of the heartbeat taken with the stethoscope placed over the apex of the heart.
bradycardia
An abnormality in heart rate in which the heart contracts steadily at a rate less than 60 contractions/min.
bradypnea
Breathing that is normal in rate but abnormally slow (less than 12 breaths/min).
core temperature (Perry 1158)
Perry, Anne, Patricia Potter, Wendy Ostendorf. Clinical Nursing Skills & Techniques, 8th Edition. Mosby, 022013. VitalBook file.
Temperature of deep body tissues and organs. (Perry 1158)
Perry, Anne, Patricia Potter, Wendy Ostendorf. Clinical Nursing Skills & Techniques, 8th Edition. Mosby, 022013. VitalBook file.
diastolic pressure
The lower blood pressure measurement, which reflects the pressure consistently exerted within the arterial system during the period of ventricular relaxation.
dyspnea
Difficulty breathing.
dysrhythmia
An irregular, fast, or slow heart rhythm.
febrile
Pertaining to or characterized by fever or an elevation in body temperature.
heatstroke
Condition characterized by core body temperature of 45�C (116�F).
hypertension
Condition characterized by an elevated blood pressure persistently exceeding 150/90 mm Hg.
hyperthermia
Condition characterized by body temperature over 38�C (100.4�F).
hypotension
Condition characterized by a low blood pressure that is inadequate to perfuse and oxygenate body tissue.
hypothermia
Condition characterized by body temperature below 36�C (96.8�F).
orthopnea
An abnormal condition in which a person must sit or stand to breathe deeply or comfortably.
orthostatic hypotension
A drop in blood pressure of 15 mm Hg or more when an individual rises from a sitting to a standing position.
oximetry
Procedure used to measure amount of oxygenated hemoglobin.
oxygen saturation
Amount of hemoglobin that is fully saturated with oxygen expressed as percentage of total available hemoglobin.
postural hypotension
Condition in which a normotensive person becomes light-headed or dizzy and experiences low blood pressure when rising to an upright position.
premature ventricular contraction (PVC)
A cardiac dysrhythmia characterized by a ventricular contraction preceding the expected contraction; it appears on an electrocardiogram as an early, wide QRS complex without a preceding P wave.
pulse deficit
Condition characterized by difference between apical and peripheral pulse rate that results in a lack of peripheral perfusion.
pyrexia
Fever. An elevation of the body temperature above the normal range.
sphygmomanometer
Device used for noninvasive measurement of arterial blood pressure. Consists of cuff, air bladder, inflation bulb, and gauge to indicate amount of air pressure being exerted.
systolic pressure
The higher blood pressure measurement. Reflects pressure within the arterial system during the period of ventricular contraction (systole).
tachycardia
An abnormality in heart rate in which the myocardium contracts regularly but at a rate over 100 beats/min.
tachypnea
Condition characterized by respiratory rate greater than 20 breaths/min.
thermoregulation
Ability to control temperature within acceptable range.
tympanic
Pertaining to a structure that resonates when struck. Drumlike.
vasoconstriction
Narrowing of the lumen of any blood vessel, especially the arterioles and the veins in the blood reservoirs of the skin and abdominal viscera.
vasodilation
An increase in the diameter of a blood vessel caused by inhibition of its vasoconstrictor nerves or stimulation of dilator nerves.