Vital signs — pulse, BP, respiration, temperature

What you'll learn

1. 1

   Vital signs are the body's basic functions we measure — pulse, blood pressure, breathing, and temperature.

2. 2

   Which of these is NOT a vital sign?

3. 3

   Your pulse is the number of times your heart beats in one minute. Place two fingers on your wrist or neck to feel it.

4. 4

   Let's measure a pulse together:

5. 5

   A patient has 20 beats in 15 seconds. What is their pulse in beats per minute?

6. 6

   Blood pressure measures the force of blood against your artery walls. It has two numbers: systolic (when heart squeezes) and diastolic (when heart relaxes).

7. 7

   In a blood pressure reading of 120/80, what does the 80 represent?