Unit 6 Worksheet
Vocabulary
Atelectasis – abnormal condition characterized by the collapse of alveoli, preventing CO2 and O2
exchange in part of the lungs
Afebrile – without fever
Apnea – the absence of spontaneous respiration
Basal metabolic rate – lowest metabolic rate required for basic functioning of body
Bronchi – prefix with relationship to a bronchus
Bronchial breath sounds – sound of air passing in and out of the bronchial heard
Bradypnea – abnormally low rate of breathing (lower than 12 breaths a minute)
Cardiac output – the amount of blood pumped out by the heart (measured in L/min)
Core temperature – temperature of structures deep within the body
Crackles – popping sounds produced by air entering lungs that contain serous secretions
Crepitus – crackling, popping and grating sounds heard from under the skin and joints
Diaphoresis – secretion of sweat
Cyanosis – bluish color of skin and mucous membrane due to the lack of O2 in blood
Dyspnea – difficult or labored breathing; shortness of breath
Eupnea – normal, relaxed breathing
Expiration – to breathe out
Fremitus – tremulous vibration of the chest wall caused by the vocalization that is palpated during a
physical exam
Fever – elevation of the body’s temperature above the normal circadian range resulting in increased
core temperature
Hyperventilation –pulmonary respiration rate greater than what is metabolically required
Hypoventilation – decreased pulmonary respiration where gas exchange carries insufficient O2 for the
body’s metabolic needs; usually leads to cyanosis
Hypoxemia – abnormal concentration of O2 in arterial blood
Hyperpyrexia – extremely elevated temperature that sometimes occurs in acute infectious diseases
Hyperthermia – much higher than normal body temperature
Hypothermia – much lower than normal body temperature usually induced by prolonged exposure to
the cold
Inspiration – the breathe in
Pulse pressure – difference between systolic and diastolic pressures usually between 30-50 mm Hg
Pyrexia – rise in the temperature of the body, usually associated with infection
Orthopnea – the inability to breathe unless standing straight or sitting erect
Stroke volume – amount of blood pumped out by the left ventricle of the heart in one contraction
Ventilation – process of moving air into and out of the lungs
Wheeze – associated with asthma and chronic bronchitis
Questions
1. In order to properly interpret your client’s vital signs, you must compare the current reading to

Acceptable ranges for adults
o Temperature range: 36oC – 38oC
o Pulse range: 60-100 BPM
o Respiratory range: 12-20 breaths per minute
o Blood pressure: 120/80 mmHg
 Pulse pressure: 30-50 mm Hg
2. You have just received a new stethoscope, and you are ready for lab! Identify the components
of a stethoscope: to ensure the best reception of sound you will need to:

5 major components of a stethoscope:
o Earpieces
o Binaurals
o Tubing
o Bell chest piece
o Diaphragm chest piece

To ensure the best reception, the ear pieces follow the contour of the ear, pointing
towards the face
3. Define inspection auscultation, percussion and palpation

Inspection: physical examination technique using your visual, auditory and olfactory
senses

Ausculation: physical examination technique using your stethoscope to ausculate
sounds created by vibration of movement of underlying tissues.

Percussion: a technique in physical examination of tapping the body with the fingertips
or fist to evaluate the size, borders, and consistency of some of the internal organs and
to discover the presence of and evaluate the amount of fluid in a body cavity.
4. Explain the physiology of normal regulation of pulse, oxygen saturation and respirations

Pulse: electrical impulses from the sinoatrial node travel thought the heart muscle to
stimulate cardiac contraction
o 60-70 mL blood enters aorta with each ventricular contraction (stroke volume)
o with every stroke volume, the walls of the aorta distend, creating a pulse wave
that travels toward the distal ends of the arteries
o mechanical, neural, and chemical factors regulate the strength of the heart
contractions and its stroke volume
o as heart rate increases, the heart has less time to fill, without a change in stroke
volume, blood pressure decreases
o abnormally slow, rapid, or irregular pulse alters cardiac output

Oxygen Saturation: to evaluate the respiratory processes of diffusion and perfusion
measure the oxygen saturation
o blood flow through the pulmonary capillaries contains red blood cells for oxygen
attachment
o after oxygen diffuses from the alveoli into the pulmonary blood most attaches
to hemoglobin molecules.
o the percentage of hemoglobin that is bound with oxygen in the arteries is the
percentage of saturation of hemoglobin

Respirations: regulated by levels of carbon dioxide, oxygen and hydrogen ion
concentration. C02 levels go up causes breathing rate and depth to increase.
o if arterial 02 levels fall, receptors in the brain increase the rate and depth of
respiration
5. Describe factors that cause variations in pulse, oxygen saturation and respirations

Factors that cause variations in pulse could be: exercise, temperature (fever and heat),
emotions (eg, anxiety), pain, drugs, hemorrhage, postural shiftage, and pulmonary
conditions

factors that cause variations in oxygen saturation could be oxygen therapy, hemoglobin
level, temperature, and medications (eg, bronchodilators)
 factors causing variation in respiration are, exercise, acute pain, anxiety, smoking, body
position, medications, neurological injury and hemoglobin function
6. Where are the following sounds located? How would you describe the sounds?
Sound
Location
Description
Bronchial
Best heard over trachea
High pitched and hollow
Bronchovesicular
Best heard posteriorly between
scapula and anteriorly over the
bronchioles lateral to the
sternum at the first and second
intercostal
Medium pitched with medium
intensity
Vesicular
Best heard over the peripheral
lung fields (except over the
scapula)
Soft, breezy and low pitched
7. Normal breathing is referred to as:
a) Apnea
b) Tachypnea
c) Bradynea
d) Eupnea
8. The term that refers to reduced oxygen in blood is:
a) Eupnea
b) Cyanosis
c) Hypoxia
d) Hypoxemia
9. Discuss factors that affect boy temperature: age, exercise, stress, hormone levels, circadium
rhythm and environment. Identify how each factor may increase and decrease body
temperature.

Age – children and infants have bad temperature regulation so they have a wider temp
range. Older adults have colder temps due to reduced body systems (metabolism, sweat
glands etc.)

Exercise – increases body temp because of increase in muscle activity.

Stress – physical and emotion increase brain activity because of hormonal and neural
stimulation = increase in metabolism= increase in temp.

Hormone level – Women experience more then men. Progesterone fluctuation in
menstrual cycle cause change in temp. Low progesterone= lower body temp.

Circadian rhythm – changes up to 1°C in the course of a day, coldest at night.

Environment – hot environment could cause increase in temp and cold environment a
decrease in body temp. Infants and older adults more at risk.
10. You client is an elderly confused man with a diagnosis of dementia. You need to take a
temperature. What considerations would you need to make?

Explain the procedure and use a tympanic thermometer because they’re quick efficient,
noninvasive and safe
11. Your client’s oral temperature is 37.6oc at 0800 hrs. what are you next actions?
12. Fever increase the tissues’ need for more oxygen and as a result:
a. Carbon dioxide decrease
b. Cyanosis occurs
c. Carbon dioxide increases
d. Muscle mass increases
13. You are caring for patient whom requires pulse oximetry every 4 hours, explain to the
patient ,using language the patient can understand, what you are “assessing” when you perform
this skill

By doing this test, we are able to measure how much oxygen your blood can carry
14. The most effective position for clients with cardiopulmonary diseases is the:
a. Supine position **allows for enhanced circulation**
b. Prone position
c. High fowler’s
d. 45o – semi-Fowler’s