Vitals & Definitions

Question 1

afebrile

Answer 1

A condition in which the body temperature is not elevated

Question 2

apnea

Answer 2

Absence of breathing

Question 3

bell (of stethoscope)

Answer 3

The hollowed, upright, curved portion used to auscultate low-pitched sounds (such as murmurs)

Question 4

blood pressure (BP)

Answer 4

The force of blood against the arterial walls

Question 5

bradycardia

Answer 5

Slow heart rate

Question 6

bradypnea

Answer 6

Abnormally slow rate of breathing

Question 7

diaphragm (of stethoscope)

Answer 7

The large, flat disk on the stethoscope used to auscultate high-pitched sounds, such as respiratory sounds

Question 8

diastolic pressure

Answer 8

The least amount of pressure exerted on arterial walls, which occurs when the heart is at rest between ventricular contractions

Question 9

dyspnea

Answer 9

Difficult or labored breathing

Question 10

dysrhythmia

Answer 10

An abnormal cardiac rhythm; synonym is arrhythmia

Question 11

arrhythmia

Answer 11

An abnormal cardiac rhythm; synonym is dysrhythmia

Question 12

eupnea

Answer 12

Normal respirations

Question 13

expiration

Answer 13

The act of breathing out; synonym is exhalation

Question 14

exhalation

Answer 14

The act of breathing out; synonym is expiration

Question 15

febrile

Answer 15

A condition in which the body temperature is elevated

Question 16

hyperpyrexia

Answer 16

High fever, above 105.8ºF (41ºC)

Question 17

hypertension

Answer 17

Blood pressure elevated above the upper limit of normal

Question 18

hypotension

Answer 18

Blood pressure below the lower limit of normal

Question 19

hypothermia

Answer 19

Body temperature below the lower limit of normal

Question 20

inspiration

Answer 20

The act of breathing in; synonym is inhalation

Question 21

inhalation

Answer 21

The act of breathing in; synonym is inspiration

Question 22

Korotkoff sounds

Answer 22

The series of sounds that correspond to changes in blood flow through an artery as pressure is released

Question 23

orthopnea

Answer 23

Type of dyspnea in which breathing is easier when the patient sits or stands

Question 24

orthostatic hypotension

Answer 24

Temporary fall in blood pressure associated with assuming an upright position; synonym for postural hypotension

Question 25

postural hypotension

Answer 25

Temporary fall in blood pressure associated with assuming an upright position; synonym for orthostatic hypotension

Question 26

pulse pressure

Answer 26

Difference between systolic and diastolic pressures

Question 27

pyrexia

Answer 27

Elevation above the upper limit of normal body temperature; synonym for fever

Question 28

respiration

Answer 28

Act of breathing and using oxygen in body cells

Question 29

systolic pressure

Answer 29

Highest point of pressure on arterial walls when the ventricles contract

Question 30

tachycardia

Answer 30

Rapid heart rate

Question 31

tachypnea

Answer 31

Abnormally rapid rate of breathing

Question 32

vital signs

Answer 32

Body temperature, pulse, respiration rates, and blood pressure; synonym for cardinal signs

Question 33

rectal temperature (in comparison to oral)

Answer 33

Usually 1ºF higher than oral temp

Question 34

axillary temperature (in comparison to oral)

Answer 34

Usually 1ºF lower than oral temp

Question 35

tympanic temperature (in comparison to oral)

Answer 35

Usually 1ºF lower than oral temp

Question 36

pulse rate

Answer 36

The number of times per minute the pulse is felt or heard; beats per min (bpm)

Question 37

rhythm (pulse)

Answer 37

The regularity at which each impulse is felt (regular or irregular)

Question 38

strength (pulse)

Answer 38

The strength of the impulse from beat to beat; graded on a scale

Question 39

pulse strength scale, 0-3+

Answer 39

0 = absent, unable to palpate 1+ = weak, thready 2+ = normal, expected 3+ = full, bounding

Question 40

pulse reference range (adult)

Answer 40

60 to 100 bpm (at rest)

Question 41

pulse deficit

Answer 41

An apical pulse rate faster than the radial pulse rate. (With dysrhythmias, the heart may contract ineffectively, resulting in a beat heard at the apical site with no pulsation felt at the radial pulse site

Question 42

respiration rate

Answer 42

The number of full breaths taken in one minute; reference rage for adults is 12 to 20 rpm

Question 43

respiration depth

Answer 43

The amount of chest wall expansion that occurs with each breath; either deep, shallow, or normal

Question 44

respiration rhythm

Answer 44

The observation of breathing intervals; regular or irregular (A regular rhythm with an occasional sigh is expected in adults.)

Question 45

blood pressure (normal)

Answer 45

\<80

Question 46

blood pressure (prehypertension)

Answer 46

120-139 / 80-89 (either/or)

Question 47

blood pressure (stage 1 hypertension)

Answer 47

140-159 / 90-99 (either/or)

Question 48

blood pressure (stage 2 hypertension)

Answer 48

≥160 / ≥100 (either/or)

Question 49

Newborn - Vitals

Answer 49

T = 98.2ºF (axillary) P = 80-180 bpm R = 30-60 rpm BP = 73/55

Question 50

Infant/Toddler (1-3yrs) - Vitals

Answer 50

T = 99.9ºF (rectal) P = 80-140 bpm R = 20-40 rpm BP = 90/55

Question 51

Child (6-8yrs) - Vitals

Answer 51

T = 98.6ºF (oral) P = 75 - 120 bpm R = 15 - 25 rpm BP = 95/75

Question 52

Child (10yrs) - Vitals

Answer 52

T = 98.6ºF (oral) P = 75 - 110 bpm R = 15 - 25 rpm BP = 102/62

Question 53

Teens - Vitals

Answer 53

T = 98.6ºF (oral) P = 60 - 100 bpm R = 15 - 20 rpm BP = 102/80

Question 54

Adult - Vitals

Answer 54

T = 98.6ºF (oral) P = 60 - 100 bpm R = 12 - 20 rpm BP = 120/80

Question 55

Older Adult (\>70yrs) - Vitals

Answer 55

T = 98.6ºF (oral) P = 60 - 100 bpm R = 15 - 20 rpm BP = 120/80

Question 56

Iatrogenic

Answer 56

Of or relating to illness caused by medical examination or treatment.

Question 57

Idiopathic

Answer 57

Of unknown cause. Any disease that is of uncertain or unknown origin may be termed idiopathic