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abandonment
the act of discontinuing emergency care without
ensuring that another health care professional with equivalent or
better training will take over.
abdominal cavity
the space located below the diaphragm that extends
to the top of the pelvis.
absorption
passage of a substance through skin or mucous
membranes upon contact.
acute
severe, with rapid onset.
air embolism
an air bubble that enters the bloodstream and
obstructs a blood vessel.
allergic reaction
a misdirected and excessive response by the immune
system to a foreign substance or an allergen.
alveoli
small air sacs in the lungs that fill with air on
inspiration and are the point of gas exchange with the pulmonary
capillaries.
amputation
an open injury caused by the ripping or tearing
away of a limb, body part, or organ.
anaphylaxis
a severe allergic reaction that produces
respiratory distress and shock (hypoperfusion). See also anaphylactic
shock.
anatomy
the study of the structure of the body and the
relationship of its parts to each other.
antigen
a foreign substance that enters the body and
triggers an immune response.
anxiety
a state of painful uneasiness about impending
problems characterized by agitation and restlessness.
aorta
major artery that starts at the left ventricle and
carries oxygen- rich blood to the body.
apnea
absence of breathing; respiratory arrest.
arachnoid
middle layer of protective brain tissue (meninges).
See also dura mater; meninges; pia mater.
arteriosclerosis
disease process that causes the loss of elasticity
in the vascular walls due to thickening and hardening of the vessels.
arytenoids
irregular pyramid-shaped structures located on the
top of the posterior aspect of the cricoid ring.
auscultation
the process of listening with a stethoscope for
sounds within the body.
autonomic nervous system
part of the nervous system that influences
involuntary muscles and glands.
avulsion
an open injury characterized by a loose flap of
skin and soft tissue that has been torn loose or pulled completely off.
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Battle's sign
discoloration of the mastoid, suggesting basilar
skull fracture.
bradycardia
a heart rate that is slower than the normal lower
limit.
brainstem
the funnel-shaped inferior part of the brain that
controls most automatic functions of the body. It is made up of the
pons, the midbrain, and the medulla, which is the brain's connection to
the spinal cord.
bronchioles
smaller airways that branch from the bronchi and
terminate at the alveolar sacs.
burnout
a condition resulting from chronic job stress,
characterized by a state of exhaustion and irritability that can
markedly decrease effectiveness.
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calcaneus
the heel bone.
capillary
tiny blood vessel connecting arterioles to venules;
site of gas and nutrient exchange with the body's cells.
capillary refill
the amount of time it takes for capillaries that
have been compressed to refill with blood.
carina
the point of division at about the level of the
fifth thoracic vertebra where the trachea splits into the right and
left mainstem bronchi.
cerebellum
second largest part of the brain, responsible for
controlling equilibrium and muscle coordination.
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
a clear fluid that surrounds and cushions the brain
and the spinal cord. Leakage of cerebrospinal fluid is evidence of a
fractured skull.
cerebrum
largest part of the brain, responsible for most
conscious and sensory functions, the emotions, and the personality.
chronic
long term, progressing gradually.
concussion
temporary loss of brain function.
conduction
transfer of heat through direct physical touch with
nearby objects.
contusion
a closed injury to the cells and blood vessels
contained within the dermis that is characterized by discoloration,
swelling, and pain; a bruise.
convulsion
unresponsiveness accompanied by a generalized jerky
muscle movement affecting the entire body.
cranium
the bones that form the top, back, and sides of the
skull plus the forehead.
critical incident
any situation that causes unusually strong emotions
that interfere with the ability to function.
critical incident stress debriefing (CISD)
a session usually held within 24 to 72 hours of a
critical incident, where a team of peer counselors and mental health
professionals help rescuers work through the emotions that normally
follow a critical incident.
cyanosis
a bluish color of the skin and mucous membranes
that indicates poor oxygenation of tissue.
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decerebrate posturing
a posture in which the patient extends the arms and
legs and sometimes arches the back; a nonpurposeful response to painful
stimulus; a sign of deep unresponsiveness and serious brain injury.
decoder
device that recognizes and responds to only certain
codes imposed on radio broadcasts.
decorticate posturing
a posture in which the patient flexes the arms
across the chest and extends the legs; a nonpurposeful response to
painful stimulus; a sign of deep unresponsiveness and serious brain
injury.
defibrillation
electrical shock or current delivered to the heart
through the patient's chest wall to help the heart restore a normal
rhythm.
dementia
condition resulting in the malfunctioning of normal
cerebral processes.
depression
one of the most common psychiatric conditions, one
characterized by deep feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and
discouragement, feelings that often do not seem connected to the actual
circumstances of the patient's life.
dermis
the layer of skin below the epidermis. See also
epidermis and subcutaneous layer.
diabetes mellitus
a disease in which the normal relationship between
glucose and insulin is altered.
drag
the factors that slow a projectile.
drug
a chemical substance that is used to treat or
prevent a disease or condition.
dura mater
outer layer of protective brain tissue (meninges).
See also arachnoid; meninges; pia mater.
dyspnea
shortness of breath or perceived difficulty in
breathing.
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EMS system
Emergency Medical Services system. An organization
that provides emergency prehospital or out-of-hospital care and
ambulance transport to hospitals.
EMT-Basic
emergency medical technician trained to the basic
level. Also EMT-B.
EMT-Intermediate
emergency medical technician trained to the
intermediate level. Also EMT-I.
EMT-Paramedic
emergency medical technician trained to the
paramedic level. Also EMT-P.
encoder
device that breaks down sound waves into unique
digital codes for radio transmission.
endocrine system
a system of ductless glands that produce hormones
which regulate body functions.
epidermis
the outermost layer of the skin. See also dermis
and subcutaneous layer.
epiglottis
a leaf-shaped cartilaginous structure that covers
the opening of the larynx during swallowing.
epilepsy
a medical disorder characterized by recurrent
seizures.
expressed consent
permission which must be obtained from every
responsive, mentally competent adult before emergency treatment may be
provided.
extrication sector
responsible for freeing patients from wreckage at a
multiple-casualty incident under an incident management system.
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genitalia
the external sex organs.
Glasgow Coma Scale
a method of evaluating a patient's level of
responsiveness.
Good Samaritan laws
laws written to provide some protection from
liability to emergency care personnel who provide emergency care in
good faith according to the standard of care.
guarding
protective tensing of the abdominal muscles by a
patient suffering abdominal pain; may be voluntary or involuntary
(reflexive).
gynecological
having to do with the female reproductive system.
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hematoma
a closed injury to the soft tissues characterized
by swelling and discoloration caused by a collection of blood beneath
the epidermis.
hemoglobin
a complex protein molecule found on the surface of
the red blood cell that is responsible for carrying a majority of
oxygen in the blood.
hyperthermia
high body temperature.
hyperventilation
provision of ventilations at an increased rate to
provide increased oxygen to the body.
hypoglycemia
low blood sugar.
hypothermia
low body temperature.
hypoxia
the absence of sufficient oxygen in the body cells.
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implied consent
the assumption that-in a true emergency where a
patient who is unresponsive or unable to make a rational decision is at
significant risk of death, disability, or deterioration of
condition-that patient would agree to emergency treatment.
incident management system
a written plan to help control, direct, and
coordinate emergency personnel at the scene of a multiple-casualty
incident.
ingestion
swallowing a substance, allowing it to reach the
stomach.
inhalation
the active process of breathing air into the lungs.
It is also known as inspiration.
injection
forced introduction into the body through the skin,
possibly into a muscle or blood vessel, usually via a syringe, bite, or
sting.
insulin
a hormone secreted by the pancreas that promotes
the movement of glucose into the cells.
intercostal muscles
the muscles between the ribs.
intracranial pressure (ICP)
the amount of pressure within the skull.
intubation
the process of passing a tube, such as an
endotracheal tube, into the body.
iris
the colored portion of the eye that surrounds the
pupil.
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kinetic energy
the energy contained by an object in motion.
Kinetic energy equals mass (weight in pounds), times the velocity (feet
per second) squared, divided by two.
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labor
the physiological process by which the fetus is
expelled from the uterus into the vagina and then to the outside of the
body. Also called childbirth.
laceration
an open injury usually caused by forceful impact
with a sharp object and characterized by a wound whose edges may be
linear (smooth and regular) or stellate (jagged and irregular) in
appearance.
ligaments
bands of fibrous tissue that connect bones about a
joint and support organs.
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malaise
a general feeling of weakness or discomfort.
maxillae
the fused bones of the upper jaw.
mechanism of injury (MOI)
factor involved in producing an injury to a
patient, including the strength, direction, and nature of the forces
that caused the injury.
medical director
physician who is legally responsible for the
clinical and patient care aspects of an EMS system.
medulla
see brain stem.
meninges
layers of tissue protecting the brain. They include
the dura mater, the arachnoid, and the pia mater.
mucous membrane
a thin layer of tissue that lines various
structures within the body.
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negligence
the act of deviating from the accepted standard of
care through carelessness, inattention, disregard, inadvertence, or
oversight, which results in further injury to the patient.
neonate
an infant in the first 30 days of life.
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olecranon
the part of the ulna that forms the bony prominence
of the elbow.
osteoporosis
loss of bone minerals that results in bones
becoming brittle.
overdose
an emergency that involves poisoning by drugs or
alcohol.
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palpation
feeling, as for a pulse.
paradoxical movement
when a section of the chest moves in the opposite
direction to the rest of the chest during the phases of respiration;
typically seen with a flail segment.
parietal pleura
the outermost pleural layer (tissue surrounding the
lungs) that adheres to the chest wall.
perfusion
the delivery of oxygen and other nutrients to the
cells and elimination of waste products of all organ systems, which
results from the constant adequate circulation of blood through the
capillaries. See also hypoperfusion.
peritoneum
the lining of the abdominal cavity.
pharmacology
the study of drugs.
pia mater
inner layer of protective brain tissue (meninges).
placenta
the fetal organ through which the fetus exchanges
nourishment and waste products during pregnancy.
plasma
the serum, or fluid, component of the blood.
pleura
two layers of connective tissue that surround the
lungs.
pulmonary edema
fluid in the lungs.
pulmonary embolism
occlusion of the pulmonary vessels by a clot.
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radiation
transfer of heat from the surface of one object to
the surface of another without physical contact between the objects.
repeaters
devices that receive transmissions from a
relatively low-powered source such as a mobile or portable radio and
rebroadcast them at another frequency and a higher power.
respiration
the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide that
takes place during inhalation and exhalation.
retractions
depressions seen in the neck, above the clavicles,
between the ribs, or below the rib cage from excessive muscle use
during breathing. It is an indication of respiratory distress.
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scapula
the shoulder blade.
seizure
a sudden and temporary alteration in the mental
status caused by massive electrical discharge in a group of nerve cells
in the brain.
snoring
a sound that is heard when the base of the tongue
or relaxed tissues in the pharynx partially block the upper airway.
Also called a sonorous sound.
stridor
a harsh, high-pitched sound heard on inspiration
that indicates swelling of the larynx.
stroke
a disruption of blood flow to the brain that occurs
when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked or ruptures. Also
called cerebrovascular accident (CVA).
sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
the sudden and unexpected death of an infant or
young child in which an autopsy fails to identify the cause of death.
SIDS typically occurs while the infant is asleep.
syncope
a brief period of unresponsiveness caused by a lack
of blood flow to the brain; fainting.
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tachycardia
a heart rate that is faster than the normal upper
limit.
tachypnea
a breathing rate that is faster than the normal
upper limit.
tension pneumothorax
a condition in which the build-up of air and
pressure in the thoracic cavity of the injured lung is so severe that
it begins to shift to the uninjured side, resulting in compression of
the heart, large vessels, and the uninjured lung.
transient ischemic attack (TIA)
temporary disturbance in cerebral blood flow,
causing an oxygen deficit to a portion of the brain. The difference
between TIA and stroke is that the TIA will subside within 24 hours of
onset.
trauma
a physical injury or wound caused by external force
or violence.
triage
the process of sorting patients to determine the
order in which they will receive care or transportation to definitive
care.
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umbilicus
the navel.
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vallecula
a depression located between the base of the tongue
and the epiglottis.
visceral pleura
innermost layer of the pleura that covers the lung.
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