lifesigns
Pulse and breathing
Lifesigns are measurable indicators that a living organism is alive—heartbeat, breathing, brain activity, body temperature.
The term appears most often in science fiction, where characters scan for lifesigns to detect survivors or hidden enemies: The scanner shows three lifesigns on the lower deck.
In medical contexts, the standard term is vital signs.
Arterial blood throb
- heartbeatRhythmic cardiac contraction
- respirationGas exchange in organisms
- blood pressureCirculatory force measurement
- breathingPulmonary gas exchange
EKG · monitor · flatline · stabilizing · fading · weak · strong · detecting
Capacity for spirited existence
- sparkTiny fiery particle
- hopeDesire for good outcomes
- revivalReturn after decline
- awakeningReturn to consciousness
stirring · glimmer · recovery · renewal · animation · pulse · breath · flicker
pulse
Arterial blood throb
- heartbeatRhythmic cardiac contraction
- respirationGas exchange in organisms
- blood pressureCirculatory force measurement
breathing · EKG · monitor · flatline · stabilizing · fading · weak · strong · detecting · unconscious
vitality
Capacity for spirited existence
awakening · stirring · glimmer · recovery · renewal · animation · pulse · breath · flicker · emergence
biosignatures
Detectable signs of life
probe · exoplanet · SETI · astrobiology · organism · microbe · atmosphere · biomarker · habitable · sensor
lifesignsrigor mortis
Postmortem muscular rigidity
decomposition · flatline · clinical death · putrefaction · asystole
lifesignsflatline
Show no heartbeat
silence · stillness · unresponsiveness · no brain activity · DOA
life, sign, lives, signs, living, live, lived, lively, liveliness