Final answer:
Five vital signs that need to be monitored include body temperature, heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and respiration rate. The Apgar score assesses additional criteria in newborns such as heart rate and respiration immediately after birth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The vital signs that must be monitored to measure the body's basic functions are:
- Body temperature (normally 37 °C [98.6 °F])
- Heart rate (normally 60-100 beats per minute)
- Breathing rate (normally 12-18 breaths per minute)
- Blood pressure (normally between 90/60 and 120/80 mm Hg)
- Respiration rate
Changes in these signs may indicate an underlying disease. For example, a fever, which is a body temperature significantly higher than normal, signifies an illness.
Additional Assessment for Newborns
The Apgar score assesses five criteria in newborns: skin color, heart rate, reflex, muscle tone, and respiration rate. Each criterion is scored from 0 to 2, with assessments at both one and five minutes after birth. A score lower than 7 at the 5-minute mark may indicate the need for medical assistance. This scoring is a quick, easy, and painless process using the APGAR mnemonic as a guide.