Texas Medical Assistant Certification Practice Test

Which body temperature condition refers to a consistent elevation above normal?

1. Hyperthermia

2. Hypothermia

3. Pyrexia

4. Normothermia

The correct answer is: Pyrexia

The condition referring to a consistent elevation above normal body temperature is known as pyrexia. Pyrexia is a clinical term often used to describe fever, which typically indicates that the body's temperature has risen due to an underlying issue, such as infection, inflammation, or other medical conditions. It suggests that the body is actively responding to a challenge, which often results in an increased metabolic response that may include sweating, shivering, or alterations in heart rate. Hyperthermia refers to an abnormally high body temperature due to failed thermoregulation, often due to excessive heat exposure or strenuous physical activity, but it doesn't necessarily imply a consistent elevation in the same manner as pyrexia. Hypothermia is characterized by an abnormally low body temperature, while normothermia indicates normal body temperature. Thus, pyrexia is the most appropriate term when discussing a sustained increase above the normal range.