Assessment of Vital Signs

Pulse Rate
Blood Pressure
Respiratory Rate
Temperature * *

Prof. Neriza G. Mamasabulod
Pulse
The wave felt by the expansion &
distention of the arterial walls as blood is
forced into the aorta & then into the
smaller arteries each the heart beats.
Normal- if compressed artery is full to
touch & pulsations are strong

Internal Anatomy of the Heart
Pressure Waves or Pulse Waves
The heart pushes blood from the left
ventricle into the aorta w/ great force. The
wall of the aorta & its branches stretches a
little w/ the sudden burst of blood during
each ventricular ejection. Burst after burst
after burst of blood ejected from the heart
produces bulge after bulge in the arterial
wall.
The rhythm & strength of the pulse in
distal arteries can indicate how efficiently
blood is being pumped into the circulation.
Location of Major Points at w/c
Pulse can be Monitored
Different Pulse Sites
Cont
Assessing an Apical Pulse
Factors Affecting Pulse
1. Activity or exercise- increased activity means
increased need for O2 by the muscles w/c results to an
increased heart rate in an effort to deliver O2 through
the blood stream.
2. Emotions- fear, worry, perception of pain stimulates
the Sympa. NS hence contractility of the heart will also
increase & pulse too will increase.
3. Heat or Temperature- when body temp. is elevated,
PR tends to rise about 10 bpm for every degree of
temp. elevation.
4. Drugs- stimulants increase PR while depressants
decreases PR.
5. Time of the Day- pulse rate is lowest in the morning on
awakening & increases later in the day.
6. Blood volume & components- excessive blood loss
cause PR to increase in an effort to keep cells supplied
w/ nutrients & O2.


Arterial Blood Pressure
Is the measure of the pressure exerted by
the blood as it flows through the arteries.
The force produced by the volume of
blood pressing on the resisting walls of the
arteries.
2 Blood Pressure Measure
1. Systolic- is the pressure of the blood as a
result of contraction of the ventricles; it is a
pressure of the height of the blood wave.
- The working period of the heart
- The heart contracts & pumps blood out
into the circulation
2. Diastolic- is the pressure when the
ventricles are at rest
- The resting period of the heart
- The time when the heart is filled with
blood, w/c will be pumped out during the
next systole

*Note: The difference between the systolic &
diastolic pressure is known as the PULSE
PRESSURE.
Factors Affecting BP
1. Age- BP rise w/ age; arteries lose their elasticity & become more rigid
(arteriosclerosis) resulting even greater resistance to the hearts effort to
fill the arteries w/ blood or arteries may be filled w/ fat deposits
(atherosclerosis) that interferes w/ the amount of blood that can be
contained w/in the arteries. Thus, BP is increased.
2. Time of the Day- BP tends to be lowest in the morning than later during
the day
3. Sex- women have lower BP than men
4. Exercise & activity- increases during period of activities or exercise &
through regular exercise helps maintain BP w/in normal limits
5. Emotions & pain- strong emotion & pain tends to make BP rise
6. Other Factors- a person has lower BP when lying down than when stting
or standing
- BP rise when urinary bladder is full & when the legs are
crossed
- BP rises when a person uses tobacco or drinks a
caffeinated beverage

Arterial Blood Pressure
Blood Pressure Measurement
Korotkoff Sounds- sounds heard when
obtaining blood pressure
Korotkoff Phases
Blood Pressure in Major Blood
Vessel Type


Blood pressure fluctuation
bet. Systole & diastole
are damped in small
arteries & arterioles. There
are no large fluctuations
in BP in capillaries & veins.

Thank you ! ! !