Temperature

Question 1

Measure of body heat, 
Heat is produced by 
muscles, glands, & 
oxidation of food.
Heat is lost by respiration, 
perspiration, & excretion,
Body temperature is a 
balance between heat 
produced and heat lost.

Answer 1

Temperature

Question 2

-exercise
-digestion of food
-increased
environmental temp
-illness
-infection
-excitement
-anxiety

Answer 2

Factors that increase Temperature

Question 3

-sleep
-fasting
-exposure to cold
-certain illnesses
-decreased muscle
activity
-mouth breathing
-depression

Answer 3

Factors that decrease temperature

Question 4

Thermometers
 ---glass with mercury 
(oral & rectal)
 ---aural (tympanic 
membrane sensor good 
for babies and children)  
 ---chemically treated 
paper or plastic 
(disposable, changes 
colors)
 ---electronic/digital 
(quick to use, has 
protective covers)

Answer 4

Temperature Assessment

Question 5

oral, rectal, aural, and axillary

Answer 5

Sites for taking body temperature

Question 6

Simplest, most common
 Taken in the mouth
 Clinical thermometer is 
left in place for 3-5 
minutes
 Normal is 98.6F or 37.0C
 Best to use when patient 
has diarrhea, rectal 
surgery, or fecal 
impaction

Answer 6

Oral Temperature

Question 7

Most accurate
 Taken in the rectum
 Clinical thermometer is left 
in place for 3-5 minutes
 Normal rectal temp is 99.6F 
or 37.5C.
 Is used when patients are 
under 6, trouble breathing, 
extremely weak, senile, 
unconscious, using oxygen, 
or have paralysis of face.

Answer 7

Rectal Temperature

Question 8

Accurate & easy to use
 Probe positioned in the ear or 
aural canal
 Thermometer detects and 
measures the thermal, infrared 
energy radiating from blood 
vessels in the tympanic 
membrane, or eardrum
 Normal temp is 98.6F or 
37.0C.

Answer 8

Aural Temperature

Question 9

Taken in armpit
 Clinical thermometer is left 
in place for 10 minutes
 Least accurate
 Normal is 97.6F or 36.4C.
 Use as a last resort when the 
temp can not be taken orally, 
aurally, or rectally.

Answer 9

Axillary temperature

Question 10

Subtract 32 from the (F) temp and then
multiply the result by 5/9 or 0.5556
EXAMPLE: Convert 212 Fahrenheit to Celsius
– Subtract 32 from 212 to get 180
– Multiply 180 by 5/9 or 0.5556 to get the Celsius temp
of 100.0

Answer 10

Converting Fahrenheit to Celsius

Question 11

Multiply the (C) temp by 9/5, or 1.8 and
then add 32 to the total
EXAMPLE: Convert 37 Celsius to Fahrenheit
– Multiply 37 by 9/5 or 1.8 to get 66.6
– Add 32 to 66.6 to get the Fahrenheit temp of 98.6

Answer 11

Converting Celsius to Fahrenheit

Question 12

Afebrile – temp is WNL
 Febrile – temp is elevated
 Hypothermia – temp is below normal
 Hyperthermia – temp exceeds 104 
rectally
 Pyrexia – above-normal temperature
 Pyrogenic – any substance that 
produces fever

Answer 12

Medical terminology for temperature