If oral temperature is 98.6F, what is the expected rectal temperature?

Study for the History and Physical (Handamp;P) Exam 1. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

If oral temperature is 98.6F, what is the expected rectal temperature?

Explanation:
Rectal temperature runs higher than oral because it measures temperature closer to the body's core and is less influenced by surface factors. With an oral reading of 98.6°F, the rectal reading would typically be about 0.5–1.0°F higher, often around 99.5–99.7°F. 99.6°F fits that pattern best. The other numbers don’t align with this difference: 97.6°F would be lower than oral, 100.6°F is a larger jump than expected for a rectal reading, and 98.6°F would be the oral value, not rectal.

Rectal temperature runs higher than oral because it measures temperature closer to the body's core and is less influenced by surface factors. With an oral reading of 98.6°F, the rectal reading would typically be about 0.5–1.0°F higher, often around 99.5–99.7°F. 99.6°F fits that pattern best. The other numbers don’t align with this difference: 97.6°F would be lower than oral, 100.6°F is a larger jump than expected for a rectal reading, and 98.6°F would be the oral value, not rectal.

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