Temperature
Measurement of the balance between heat lost and heat produced.
Volume
Strength of the pulse.
Apical Pulse
Pulse taken at the apex of the heart with a stethoscope.
Respirations
Measurement of breaths taken by a patient.
Stethoscope
Instrument used to take apical pulse.
Pulse
Pressure of the blood felt against the wall of an artery.
Rhythm
Regularity of the pulse or respirations.
Rate
Number of beats per minute.
Blood Pressure
Measurement of the force exerted by the heart against arterial walls.
Vital Signs
Various determinations that provide information about body conditions.
Temperature, Respirations, Pulse, Blood Pressure
The 4 main vital signs.
Mouth(Oral), Rectum(Rectal), Armpit(Axillary), Ear(Aural)
The 4 most common sites in the body where temperature can be measured.
Rate, Rhythm, Volume
The 3 factors recorded about a pulse.
Count, Rhythm(Regularity), Character(Type)
The 3 noted factors about respirations.
Systolic and Diastolic
The 2 readings noted on a blood pressure.
Illness, Hardening of Arteries, Weak or Rapid Radial Pulse
The 3 reasons you may have to take an apical pulse.
Hyperthermia
Body exceeds 104*F.
Hypothermia
Low body temperature. (Below 95*F)
Temporal
At the side of the forehead.
Carotid
At the neck.
Brachial
Crease of the elbow.
Radial
At the inner aspect of the wrist, above the thumb.
Femoral
At the inner aspect of the thigh.
Popliteal
Behind the knee.
Dorsalis Pedis
At the top of the foot arch.
Exercise, Stimulant Drugs, Excitement
The 3 factors that could cause an increase in a pulse rate.
Sleep, Depressant Drugs, Heart Disease
The 3 factors that could cause a decrease in a pulse rate.
Inspiration and Expiration
One respiration consists of...
Deep, Shallow, Labored, Difficult
The 4 words to describe the character or volume of respirations.
Regular and Irregular
The 2 words to describe the rhythm of respirations.
Dyspnea
Difficult or labored breathing.
Apnea
Absence of respirations, usually temporary.
Cheyne-Stokes
Periods of dyspnea followed by apnea.
Rales
Bubbling or noisy sounds caused by fluids or mucus in the air passages.
Tachypnea
Respiratory rate above 25.
Bradypnea
Respiratory rate below 10.
Wheezing
Whistling or sighing sound during expiration.