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Medical Technology:Human Vital Signs

SNC4M

+Essential Questions: What are the four primary vital signs in humans and how are they measured?

What are the normal ranges for various physiological and biochemical indicators of health?

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+Vital Signs

Vital signs (VS) are measures of various physiological statistics, often taken by health professionals, in order to assess the most basic body functions.

VS are the most important measurements healthcare professionals will obtain when they evaluate or assess a patient’s condition.

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+Four Primary Vital Signs

Heart Rate (Pulse) Blood Pressure Body Temperature Respiration Rate

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+Major Associated Internal Systems or Organs

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Brain Liver Heart/Circulatory System

Muscular SystemLungs

+Heart Rate (Pulse)

What exactly is the heart rate or pulse?

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+Heart Rate (Pulse)

A wave of blood flow that expands an artery created by a contraction of the heart.

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+Heart Rate (Pulse) (cont.)

Heart rate can be measured by finding the pulse sites of the body

Pulse sites most commonly used: Radial pulse – located inside the wrist, near the thumb.

Brachial pulse – found in the antecubital space of the arm (the bend of the elbow) in adults.

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Heart Rate (Pulse) (cont.)

Pulse Sites (cont.) Apical pulse – auscultated with a stethoscope on the chest wall. The pulse is found at the apex of the heart.

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+Heart Rate (Pulse) Sites (Answers)A. TemporalB. FemoralC. PoplitealD. Posterior tibialE. CarotidF. BrachialG. RadialH. Dorsalis pedis

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A.

B.

D.

E.

F.

C. G.

H.

+Electrocardiograph (ECG or EKG)

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+Heart Rate (Pulse) (cont.)

Characteristics of the Heart Rate

Assessed as beats per minute, or BPM.

Counted for 15, 20, 30, or 60 seconds.

Adults: healthy resting HR = 60–80 bpm

(taken while lying down) Tachycardia – a pulse rate faster than normal (above 100 bpm).

Bradycardia – a pulse rate slower than normal (below 60 bpm).

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