Vital Signs Terminology — Temperature
Antipyretic
agent which reduces fever
Body Temperature
balance between heat production and heat loss measured in
degrees by clinical thermometer
Circadian rhythm
A rhythmic repetition in biological events in man at
approximately the same time each 24 hours
Conduction
Flow of heat from one object to another with which there is
direct contact
Convection
transference of heat by means of currents in the air
Evaporation
loss of heat due to conversion of liquid into vapor
Febrile
feverish or pertaining to fever
Hypothermia
abnormally low body temperature
Hyperthermia
abnormally high body temperature
Intermittent fever
fever that falls to normal at some time during a 24 hour period
Metabolism
process by which nutrients are utilized to provide energy and
heat
Pyrexia
fever
Radiation
emission of heat rays from a center to a cooler surface
Relapsing fever
fever with one or more days of normalcy between febrile
periods
Remittent fever
fever with marked variations – temperature does not reach
normal