 A medical/clinical thermometer showing the temperature of 38.7 °C Medical thermometers are traditionally mercury-in-glass thermometers used for measuring human body temperature, with the tip of the thermometer being inserted either into the mouth (oral temperature), under the armpit (axilliary temperature) or into the rectum via the anus (rectal temperature). Image File history File links Wiki_letter_w. ...
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Close up of a maximum thermometer. ...
Thermoregulation is the ability of an organism to keep its body temperature within certain boundaries, even when temperature surrounding is very different. ...
The underarm (or armpit, axilla, or oxter) is the area on the human body directly under the joint where the arm connects to the shoulder. ...
The rectum (from the Latin rectum intestinum, meaning straight intestine) is the final straight portion of the large intestine in some mammals, and the gut in others, terminating in the anus. ...
Classification, by technology
 Electronic clinical thermometer The traditional mercury filled medical thermometer works in the same way as a meteorological maximum thermometer. The thermometer consists of a bulb containing mercury attached to a small tube. As the temperature rises, the mercury expands and flows up the tube. The temperature is obtained by reading the scale inscribed on the side of the thermometer. There is a constriction in the neck close to the bulb. As the temperature rises the mercury is forced up through the constriction by the force of the expansion. When the temperature falls the column of mercury breaks at the constriction and cannot return to the bulb thus remaining stationary in the tube. To reset the thermometer it must be swung sharply. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1131x531, 66 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Thermometer ...
ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1131x531, 66 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Thermometer ...
 Close up of a maximum thermometer. The break in the column of mercury is visible. In the 1990s, mercury thermometers were found too risky to handle and have largely been replaced with electronic thermometers, or, more rarely, thermometers based on liquids other than mercury. In some places it may be illegal to sell products which can contain mercury, such as thermometers. Both kinds may be used orally, axilliarily, or rectally. Image File history File links Close up of the bulb of a maximum thermometer. ...
Image File history File links Close up of the bulb of a maximum thermometer. ...
For the band, see 1990s (band). ...
Classification, by location
Oral Oral temperature may only be taken from a patient who is capable of holding the thermometer in their mouth correctly and securely, which generally excludes small children or people who are overcome by coughing or vomiting (this is now less of a problem with fast-reacting digital thermometers, but was certainly an issue with mercury thermometers, which took several minutes to register a temperature). Another counter-indication is if the patient has drunk a hot or cold liquid beforehand, in which case one has to wait or use another method.
Rectal Rectal temperature, especially if taken by a person other than the patient, should be facilitated with the use of lubricant (such as petroleum jelly (now discouraged) or a water-based personal lubricant). Although rectal temperature is the most accurate, this method may be considered embarrassing in some countries or cultures, especially if used on patients older than young children. Rectal temperature is considered the method of choice for infants for the general public; however, "the rectal route is least desirable in infants" from a nursing point of view but it is the most accurate to put up infants asses.[1] A lubricant (colloquially, lube, although this may also refer to personal lubricants) is a substance (usually a liquid) introduced between two moving surfaces to reduce the friction and wear between them. ...
Petroleum jelly or petrolatum is a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons. ...
This article needs cleanup. ...
A human infant In basic English usage, an infant is defined as a child at the youngest stage of life, especially before they can walk or simply a child before the age of one. ...
Ear and forehead Other kinds of medical thermometers exist such as the tympanic thermometer that measures the temperature of the tympanum by infrared measurement, and the band thermometer that are applied to the patient's brow. The tympanic membrane, colloquially known as the eardrum, is a thin membrane that separates the external ear from the middle ear. ...
Image of two girls in mid-infrared (thermal) light (false-color) Infrared (IR) radiation is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than that of visible light, but shorter than that of radio waves. ...
References - ^ Fundamentals of Nursing by Barbara Kozier et al, 7th edition, p. 495
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