Chapter 3 - Assessment Of Vital Signs

Front 1

Anoxia

Back 1

Absence of oxygen in the tissues

Front 2

Apical pulse

Back 2

The pulse that is found when a stethoscope is placed on the chest wall over the apex of the heart; also may be found by palpation

Front 3

Apnea

Back 3

The absence of breathing

Front 4

Arrhythmia

Back 4

Variation from the normal rhythm

Front 5

Auscultation

Back 5

Listening for sounds produced within the body by using the unaided ear or a stethoscope

Front 6

Bradycardia

Back 6

A slow heartbeat i.e pulse rate less than 60 beats/min ) may be a normal finding in a well-conditioned person or an abnormal finding.

Front 7

Cardiac output

Back 7

The amount of blood that is pumped from the heart during each contraction

Front 8

Diaphoresis

Back 8

Profuse perspiration

Front 9

Diastole

Back 9

The period when the least amount of pressure is exerted on the wall or the arteries during the heartbeat; usually indicates the resting phase of the heart

Front 10

Dyspnea

Back 10

Labored or difficult breathing

Front 11

Dysrhythmia

Back 11

Disturbance of rhythm

Front 12

Ectopic

Back 12

Arising or produced abnormally

Front 13

Expiration

Back 13

The passive phase of respiration when the person breathes out, also referred to as exhalation

Front 14

Fever

Back 14

Body temperature that is above the normal levels; also referred to as pyrexia

Front 15

Hyperextension

Back 15

Abnormally high blood pressure

Front 16

Hypotension

Back 16

Abnormally low blood pressure

Front 17

Inguinal

Back 17

Pertaining to the groin

Front 18

Inspiration

Back 18

The active phase of respiration when the person breathes in; also referred to as inhalation

Front 19

Intubation

Back 19

The insertion of a tube into the larynx to maintain an open airway

Front 20

Korotkoff's sound

Back 20

Sounds heard during auscultatory determination of blood pressure; believed to be produced by vibratory motion of the arterial wall as the artery suddenly distends when compressed by a pneumatic blood cuff; the origin of the sound may be within the blood passing through the vessel or whiten the wall itself.

Front 21

Occlude

Back 21

To fit close together, to close tight; to obstruct or close off

Front 22

Orthopnea

Back 22

A condition in which breathing is easier when the person is seated or standing

Front 23

Pulse

Back 23

A palpable wave of blood produced in the walls of the arteries with each heartbeat or contraction

Front 24

Pulse oximetry

Back 24

A medical device that measures levels of blood oxygen saturation, monitors pulse rate, and calculates heart rate.

Front 25

Rate

Back 25

An abnorma, discontinuos, nonmusical sound heard in auscultation of the chest, primarily during inhalation; also called a crackle

Front 26

Rectal

Back 26

Pertaining to the rectum or the distal portion of the largest intestine

Front 27

Respiration

Back 27

The act of breathing

Front 28

SOB

Back 28

shortness of breath

Front 29

Sphygmomanometer

Back 29

An instrument used to measure blood pressure; it may use a mercury column or an enclosed air-pressure spring system

Front 30

Stethoscope

Back 30

An instrument used to convey sounds produced in the body of a person to the ears of the examiner; it is comprised of a diaphragm, tubing, and earpieces

Front 31

Stridor

Back 31

A shrill, harsh sound, especially the respiratory sound heard during inspiration in a person with laryngeal obstruction

Front 32

Syncope

Back 32

A temporary suspension of consciousness by cerebral anemia; fainting

Front 33

Systole

Back 33

The period when the greatest amount of pressure is exerted on the walls of the arteries during heartbeat; usually indicates the contractile phase of the heartbeat

Front 34

Tachycardia

Back 34

An abnormally fast heartbeat (i.e a pulse rate greater than 100 beats/min)

Front 35

Vital signs

Back 35

Measurement of a person's body temperature, heart and respiration rates, and blood pressure; also referred to as cardinal signs.