rectal temperature

rectal temperature

Etymology: L, rectus, straight, temperatura

body temperature as measured by a clinical thermometer placed in the rectum. Rectal temperatures average 0.5° F to 0.75° F (0.3° C to 0.4° C) higher than oral temperatures.

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rectal

pertaining to the rectum.

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rectal examination

digital (in small animals) or manual examination of the visceral contents of the posterior abdomen for the purposes of diagnosis, in cattle and horses especially of pregnancy. See also rectum, proctoscopy.

rectal fistula

see rectovaginal fistula.

rectal impaction

see fecal impaction.

rectal inflammation

see proctitis, rectitis.

rectal massage

massage of the accessory sex glands, a method of semen collection in dogs.

rectal paralysis

occurs especially in cows and mares in late pregnancy. No feces are passed and the rectum is distended with feces, and there is no peristalsis during their manual removal. Dogs may show posterior paresis.

rectal polyp

see colorectal polyp.

rectal probe

used in pregnancy diagnosis in ewes and in electroejaculation.

rectal rupture

the wall is perforated into the peritoneal cavity. Death occurs quickly as a result of endotoxic shock because of the absorption of enteric toxins through the peritoneum.

rectal stricture

stenosis of the rectum occurs in dogs, presumably resulting from trauma and anorectal disease, and in pigs following local ulceration caused by infection with Salmonella spp. Abnormal abdominal distention, small diameter feces and straining result.

rectal tear

most common in mares in association with manual rectal examinations. The mucosa is damaged but the wall is not ruptured. Leads to perirectal abscessation and subsequent peritonitis.

rectal temperature

see rectal temperature.

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temperature

the degree of sensible heat or cold, expressed in terms of a specific scale. See also hypothermia, hyperthermia.

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absolute temperature

that reckoned from absolute zero (−459.67°F or −273.15°C).

air temperature

the temperature of the surrounding air as measured by a dry-bulb thermometer.

ambient temperature

temperature of the immediate environment.

body temperature

a prime technique for assessing health status of a patient. Always a rectal temperature. Average temperatures above which hyperthermia, pyrexia or fever can be said to occur are listed under pyrexia.

critical temperature

1. that below which a gas may be converted to a liquid by pressure.

2. the environmental temperature at which the body is unable to maintain a constant body temperature and at which heat production must be increased (cold temperatures) or at which heat loss must be increased (high temperatures).

effective temperature

the combination of air temperature, humidity and wind speed. See also temperateness index.

environmental temperature

air temperature.

nonpermissive temperature

one at which a conditional gene mutation is nonfunctional. See also temperature-sensitive mutation.

normal body temperature

that usually registered by a healthy animal. See pyrexia.

permissive temperature

one at which a conditional gene mutation can express its normal function. See also temperature-sensitive mutation.

premortal temperature fall

the sudden fall in body temperature of a previously fevered animal just before death.

rectal temperature

the body temperature as measured by a rectal thermometer which has been in situ and in contact with the mucosa of the rectum with the anal sphincter tightly closed for at least 30 seconds. Alternative equipment is a dipolar electrode in a rectal probe.

temperature stress

exposure to excessively high or low environmental temperature.

windchill temperature

a combination of wind velocity and air temperature. See also effective temperature (above).