What it means
How warm the body's core is, kept steady by the hypothalamushy-poh-THAL-uh-musA small area at the base of the brain that controls body temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep and many hormones.hypo- belowthalamus inner chamber (a part of the brain)Full entry in the brain. The average adult temperature is about 37 °C (98.6 °F), and a normal range is about 36.1 to 37.2 °C (97 to 99 °F); it is lowest in the early morning. It can be taken by mouth, in the ear, on the forehead, under the arm or in the rectum, and each site reads a little differently. A temperature of 38 °C (100.4 °F) or higher is usually called a fever.
For the nurse
Use the same site each time for comparison and record which site was used. Wait 15 to 30 minutes after the client eats, drinks or smokes before an oral reading. Report a high temperature, a low one (hypothermiahy-poh-THER-mee-uhA body temperature that has fallen below the normal range.hypo- belowtherm/o heat-ia conditionFull entry ) or a rising trend.
In a chart
"T 38.4 °C (101.1 °F) oral; acetaminophen given per PRN order."
At a glance
| Abbreviations | T; temp |
|---|---|
| Spanish | temperatura corporal |
| Also written | body’s temperature, body temperatures |
Related terms
vital signs
The basic body measurements: temperature, pulse, breathing rate and blood pressure, often with oxygen saturation and pain.
hypothalamus
A small area at the base of the brain that controls body temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep and many hormones.
hypothermia
A body temperature that has fallen below the normal range.
hyperthermia
A body temperature that is higher than normal because the body takes in or makes more heat than it can lose.
antipyretic
A drug that lowers a fever.