Compared to oral temperatures, which sites are typically lower?

• A. Rectal
• B. Tympanic
• C. Axillary and temporal
• D. Oral

Answer: (C)

Temperature readings vary with how close they are to the body's core. Peripheral sites are more exposed to the environment and skin heat loss, so they tend to read lower than oral temperatures. Axillary (under the arm) and temporal (forehead) measurements are typical examples of this lower, peripheral reading. In contrast, rectal temperatures are closer to core body temperature and are usually higher than oral, while tympanic readings approximate core temperature and can be similar to or a bit higher than oral. Therefore, the sites that are typically lower than oral are axillary and temporal.