A special thermometer can quickly measure the temperature of the ear drum, which reflects the body's core temperature (the temperature of the internal organs).īy skin. Temperatures taken by this route tend to be 0.3 to 0.4 degrees F lower than those temperatures taken by mouth.īy ear. Temperatures can be taken under the arm using a glass or digital thermometer.

Temperatures taken rectally (using a glass or digital thermometer) tend to be 0.5 to 0.7 degrees F higher than when taken by mouth.Īxillary. Temperature can be taken by mouth using either the classic glass thermometer, or the more modern digital thermometers that use an electronic probe to measure body temperature. A person's body temperature can be taken in any of the following ways: Normal body temperature can range from 97.8 degrees F (or Fahrenheit, equivalent to 36.5 degrees C, or Celsius) to 99 degrees F (37.2 degrees C) for a healthy adult. The normal body temperature of a person varies depending on gender, recent activity, food and fluid consumption, time of day, and, in women, the stage of the menstrual cycle.

Vital signs can be measured in a medical setting, at home, at the site of a medical emergency, or elsewhere. Vital signs are useful in detecting or monitoring medical problems. The four main vital signs routinely monitored by medical professionals and health care providers include the following:īlood pressure (Blood pressure is not considered a vital sign, but is often measured along with the vital signs.) Vital signs are measurements of the body's most basic functions.

Blood pressure chart to print out