In the normal child, which statement best describes how vital signs compare with those of an adult?

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Multiple Choice

In the normal child, which statement best describes how vital signs compare with those of an adult?

In a healthy child, heart rate and respiratory rate are higher than in adults, while blood pressure is lower. The smaller heart pumps a smaller volume per beat, so heart rate must stay higher to maintain adequate cardiac output. Likewise, children have higher metabolic demands and, with smaller tidal volumes, breathe more rapidly to meet oxygen needs and remove CO2. Baseline blood pressure rises with age, so pediatric values are lower than adult norms. So a statement describing lower blood pressure, plus higher heart rate and higher ventilatory rate, best matches normal pediatric physiology compared with adults.

In a healthy child, heart rate and respiratory rate are higher than in adults, while blood pressure is lower. The smaller heart pumps a smaller volume per beat, so heart rate must stay higher to maintain adequate cardiac output. Likewise, children have higher metabolic demands and, with smaller tidal volumes, breathe more rapidly to meet oxygen needs and remove CO2. Baseline blood pressure rises with age, so pediatric values are lower than adult norms. So a statement describing lower blood pressure, plus higher heart rate and higher ventilatory rate, best matches normal pediatric physiology compared with adults.

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