| A | B |
|---|
| vital signs | defined as various determinatons that provide information about the basic body conditions of the patient |
| main vital signs | pulse, respirations, temperature, blood pressure |
| temperature | a measurement of the balance between heat lost and heat produced |
| pulse | pressure of the blood felt against the wall of an artery as the heart contracts and relaxes, or beats |
| rate | refers to the number of beats per minute |
| rhythm | refers to regular or irregularity |
| volume | refers to strength |
| radial artery | pulse if usually taken here |
| respirations | reflects the breathing rate of a paptient |
| blood pressure | the force exerted by the blood against the arterial walls when the heart contracts or relaxes. |
| apical pulse | taken with a stethoscope at the apex of the heart |
