Vital signs - Medical Assistant
Questions and Answers | Latest
Version | 2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
What is tachypnea?
✔✔Rapid breathing above the normal rate for the patient’s age.
What is bradypnea?
✔✔Slow breathing below the normal rate for the patient’s age.
How should respirations be measured accurately?
✔✔Observe the patient’s chest rise and fall discreetly for one full minute without alerting them.
What is systolic blood pressure?
✔✔The pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts.
What is diastolic blood pressure?
✔✔The pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes between beats.
1
,What is the normal adult blood pressure range?
✔✔Systolic 90–120 mmHg, Diastolic 60–80 mmHg.
What are vital signs?
✔✔Vital signs are measurements of the body’s basic functions, including temperature, pulse,
respiration, and blood pressure, used to assess a patient’s health.
Why are vital signs important in patient assessment?
✔✔They help detect early changes in a patient’s condition and monitor treatment effectiveness.
What is the normal range for adult body temperature?
✔✔36.1°C to 37.2°C (97°F to 99°F).
Which body temperature measurement is most accurate?
✔✔Rectal temperature is generally the most accurate.
What is tachycardia?
✔✔A heart rate over 100 beats per minute in adults.
2
, What is bradycardia?
✔✔A heart rate below 60 beats per minute in adults.
What is the normal adult pulse rate?
✔✔60 to 100 beats per minute.
Which pulse site is commonly used for routine vital signs?
✔✔Radial pulse at the wrist.
Which pulse site is used during CPR or emergency assessment?
✔✔Carotid pulse at the neck.
How should a medical assistant assess a patient’s pulse?
✔✔Use the pads of the fingers, count beats for 30 seconds and multiply by 2, or count for a full
60 seconds if irregular.
What is a normal adult respiratory rate?
3
Questions and Answers | Latest
Version | 2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
What is tachypnea?
✔✔Rapid breathing above the normal rate for the patient’s age.
What is bradypnea?
✔✔Slow breathing below the normal rate for the patient’s age.
How should respirations be measured accurately?
✔✔Observe the patient’s chest rise and fall discreetly for one full minute without alerting them.
What is systolic blood pressure?
✔✔The pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts.
What is diastolic blood pressure?
✔✔The pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes between beats.
1
,What is the normal adult blood pressure range?
✔✔Systolic 90–120 mmHg, Diastolic 60–80 mmHg.
What are vital signs?
✔✔Vital signs are measurements of the body’s basic functions, including temperature, pulse,
respiration, and blood pressure, used to assess a patient’s health.
Why are vital signs important in patient assessment?
✔✔They help detect early changes in a patient’s condition and monitor treatment effectiveness.
What is the normal range for adult body temperature?
✔✔36.1°C to 37.2°C (97°F to 99°F).
Which body temperature measurement is most accurate?
✔✔Rectal temperature is generally the most accurate.
What is tachycardia?
✔✔A heart rate over 100 beats per minute in adults.
2
, What is bradycardia?
✔✔A heart rate below 60 beats per minute in adults.
What is the normal adult pulse rate?
✔✔60 to 100 beats per minute.
Which pulse site is commonly used for routine vital signs?
✔✔Radial pulse at the wrist.
Which pulse site is used during CPR or emergency assessment?
✔✔Carotid pulse at the neck.
How should a medical assistant assess a patient’s pulse?
✔✔Use the pads of the fingers, count beats for 30 seconds and multiply by 2, or count for a full
60 seconds if irregular.
What is a normal adult respiratory rate?
3
