Vital Signs

is the difference between the amount of heat produced by the body and the amount of heat lost to the environment, measured in degrees.

core body temperature measured in:

• oral

• tympanic

• axillary

• rectal

• skin surface

surface body temperature

• oral

• rectal

• axillary

• skin surface

• tympanic

Factors Affecting heat loss

• BMR

• Muscle activity

• thyroxin output

• epinephrine and sympathetic stimulation

BMR stands for

transfer of heat from the surface of one object to the surface of another without contact between 2 objects
Clue: R

transfer of heat from one molecule to a molecule of lower temperature

• radiation

• conduction

• convection

• evaporation

dispersion of heat by air currents

• convection

• radiation

• conduction

• evaporation

continuous vaporization of moisture from the respiratory tract and from the mucosa of the mouth and from the skin
E

rectal temp: lubricate about _ inches of the probe with a water soluble lubricant

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4