Vital Signs Flashcards
(35 cards)
vital signs
clinical measurements that include blood pressure, pulse, body temperature, respiration, oxygen saturation
blood pressure
measurement of the amount of pressure exerted by the blood within the circulatory system; measured in mmHg and expressed as systolic over diastolic
systole
the maximum amount of pressure exerted when the heart contracts and forces blood into the aorta
diastolic
the minimum amount of pressure exerted when the heart is relaxing
what is blood pressure a direct measure of?
cardiac output, blood volume, blood viscosity, vascular elasticity, degree of peripheral vascular resistance
cardiac output
the amount of blood pumped into the circulatory system by the heart within one minute (product stroke volume and HR)
stroke volume
the amount of blood ejected by one ventricle during one heart contraction
increase in cardiac output results in an increase of what?
blood pressure (vice versa). Therefore decrease of SV or HR equals decrease in BP, vice versa
peripheral vascular resistance
the ability of the vessels to accommodate increased blood flow without also increasing resistance or blood pressure
contractibility
ability to contract efficiently. A decrease in contractibility>decrease in CO>decrease in BP
preload
amount of blood inside the ventricles before they contract
afterload
amount of resistance or constriction that the heart must overcome to eject the blood into the systemic circuit
An increase afterload results in what common health problem?
hypertension
sphygmomanometer
instrument used to measure arterial blood pressure
Korotkoff sounds
a series sounds created by movement of blood through a partially compressed vessel during a manual BP
hypertension
blood pressure that is above the expected reference range (most common)
hypotension
blood pressure that is below the expected reference range
orthostatic hypotension
drop in blood pressure that occurs when a client rises to a sitting or standing position
pulse
rhythmic dilation of the arteries and pulsation of blood flow that occurs with each contraction of the left ventricle
tachycardia
heart rate above expected reference range (higher than 100)
arrhythmia
irregular heartbeat rhythm
Doppler ultrasound stethoscope
a stethoscope fitted with audio unit with transducer that amplifies vascular or other sounds of body ; used to find nonpalpable difficult pulses
pulse deficit
difference between the apical and peripheral pulse in 1 min
body temperature
the measurement of the balance of heat produced by the body and the heat lost to the environment (degrees)