Term
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Definition
| leaving a patient after care has been initiated and before the patient has been transferred to someone with equal or greater medical training. |
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Term
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Definition
| airway, breathing, and circulation. |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| poisons that are taken into the body through unbroken skin. |
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Term
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Definition
| the pelvic socket into which the ball at the proximal end of the femur fits to form the hip joint. |
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Term
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Definition
| the joint where the acromion and the clavicle meet. |
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Term
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Definition
| the highest portion of the shoulder. |
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Term
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Definition
| a substance that adsorbs many poisons and prevents them from being absorbed by the body. |
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Term
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Definition
| application of an external heat source to rewarm the body of a hypothermic patient. |
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Term
| acute myocardial infarction (AMI) |
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Definition
| the condition in which a portion of the myocardium dies as a result of oxygen starvation; often called a heart attack by lay persons |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| gas bubble in the bloodstream. The plural is air emboli. The more accurate term is arterial gas embolism (AGE). |
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Term
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Definition
| a bubble of air in the bloodstream. |
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Term
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Definition
| the passageway by which air enters or leaves the body. The structures of the airway are the nose, mouth, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs. See also patent airways. |
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Term
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Definition
| something that causes an allergic reaction. |
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Term
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Definition
| an exaggerated immune response. |
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Term
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Definition
| the microscopic sacs of the lungs where gas exchange with the bloodstream takes place. |
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Term
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Definition
| the surgical removal or traumatic severing of a body part, usually an extremity. |
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Term
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Definition
| a severe or life-threatening allergic reaction in which the blood vessels dilate, causing a drop in blood pressure, and the tissues lining the respiratory system swell, interfering with the airway. Also called anaphylactic shock. |
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Term
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Definition
| the standard reference position for the body in the study of anatomy. In this position, the body is standing erect, facing the observer, with arms down at the sides and the palms of the hands forward. |
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Term
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Definition
| the study of body structure. |
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Term
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Definition
| the dilation, or ballooning, of a weakened section of the wall of an artery. |
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Term
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Definition
| pain in the chest, occurring when blood supply to the heart is reduced and a portion of the heart muscle is not receiving enough oxygen. |
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Term
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Definition
| the front of the body or body part. |
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Term
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Definition
| a substance that will neutralize a poison or its effects. |
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Term
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Definition
| the largest artery in the body. It transports blood from the left ventricle to begin systemic circulation. |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| a small tube located near the junction of the small and large intestines in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen, the function of which is not well understood. Its inflammation, called appendicitis, is a common cause of abdominal pain. |
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Term
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Definition
| bleeding from an artery, which is characterized by bright red blood and as rapid, profuse, and difficult to control. |
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Term
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Definition
| the smallest kind of artery. |
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Term
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Definition
| a condition in which artery walls become hard and stiff due to calcium deposits. |
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Term
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Definition
| any blood vessel carrying blood away from the heart. |
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Term
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Definition
| forcing air or oxygen into the lungs when a patient has stopped breathing or has inadequate breathing. Also called positive pressure ventilation |
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Term
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Definition
| a condition in which the heart has ceased generating electrical impulses. |
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Term
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Definition
| a buildup of fatty deposits on the inner walls of arteries. |
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Term
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Definition
| the two upper chambers of the heart. There is a right atrium (which receives unoxygenated blood returning from the body) and a left atrium (which receives oxygenated blood returning from the lungs). |
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Term
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Definition
| A stethoscope is used to auscultate for characteristic body sounds. |
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Term
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Definition
| a syringe pre-loaded with medication that has a spring-loaded device that pushes the needle through the skin when the tip of the device is pressed firmly against the body. |
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Term
| automatic implanted cardiac defibrillator (AICD) |
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Definition
| a device implanted under the skin that can detect a life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmia and respond by delivering one or more high energy shocks to correct the rhythm. |
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Term
| automatic transport ventilator (ATV) |
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Definition
| a device that provides positive pressure ventilations. It includes settings designed to adjust ventilation rate and volume, is portable and easily carried on an ambulance. |
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Term
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Definition
| the ability of the heart to generate and conduct electrical impulses on its own. |
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Term
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Definition
| the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary motor functions. |
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Term
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Definition
| a memory aid for classifying a patient's level of responsiveness, or mental status. The letters stand for alert, verbal response, painful response, unresponsive. |
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Term
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Definition
| the tearing away or tearing off of a piece or flap of skin or other soft tissue. This term also may be used for an eye pulled from its socket or a tooth dislodged from its socket. |
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Term
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Definition
| a hand-held device with a face mask and self-refilling bag that can be squeezed to provide artificial ventilations to a patient. Can deliver air from the atmosphere or oxygen from a supplemental oxygen supply system. |
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Term
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Definition
| any material used to hold a dressing in place. |
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Term
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Definition
| a two-way radio at a fixed site such as a hospital or dispatch center. |
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Term
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Definition
| the manner in which a person acts. |
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Term
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Definition
| when a patient’s behavior is not typical for the situation; when the patient’s behavior is unacceptable or intolerable to the patient, his family, or the community, or when the patient may harm himself or others. |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| the force of blood against the walls of the blood vessels. Usually arterial blood pressure (the pressure in an artery) is measured. See also diastolic blood pressure; systolic blood pressure. |
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Term
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Definition
| injury caused by a blow that does not penetrate through the skin or other body tissues. |
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Term
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Definition
| the proper use of the body to facilitate lifting and moving and prevent injury. |
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Term
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Definition
| hard but flexible living structures that provide support for the body and protection to vital organs. Types of bones are long, short, flat, and irregular. The typical long bone has a cylindrical shaft and a rounded end or head, which is connected to the shaft by the neck. |
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Term
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Definition
| artery of the upper arm; the site of the pulse checked during infant CPR. |
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Term
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Definition
| the pulse felt in the upper arm. |
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Term
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Definition
| slow pulse; any pulse rate below 60 beats per minute. |
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Term
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Definition
| the two large sets of branches that come off the trachea and enter the lungs. There are right and left bronchi. Singular bronchus. |
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Term
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Definition
| smaller branches of the bronchi. |
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Term
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Definition
| constriction, or blockage, of the bronchi that lead from the trachea to the lungs. |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| a thin-walled, microscopic blood vessel where oxygen/carbon dioxide and nutrient/waste exchange with the body’s cells takes place. |
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Term
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Definition
| bleeding from capillaries, which is characterized by a slow, oozing flow of blood. |
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Term
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Definition
| a blanket term for any heart problem. |
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Term
| cardiac conduction system |
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Definition
| a system of specialized muscle tissues which conduct electrical impulses that stimulate the heart to beat. |
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Term
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Definition
| specialized involuntary muscle found only in the heart. |
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Term
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Definition
| shock, or lack of perfusion, brought on not by blood loss, but by inadequate pumping action of the heart. It is often the result of a heart attack or congestive heart failure. |
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Term
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Definition
| the system made up of the heart (cardio) and the blood vessels (vascular0; the circulatory system. |
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Term
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Definition
| the fork at the lower end of the trachea where the two mainstem bronchi branch. |
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Term
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Definition
| the large neck arteries, one on each side of the neck, that carry blood from the heart to the head. |
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Term
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Definition
| the pulse felt along the large carotid artery on either side of the neck. |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| tough tissue that covers the joint ends of bones and helps to form certain body parts such as the ear. |
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Term
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Definition
| a catheter surgically inserted for long-term delivery of medications or fluids into the central circulation. |
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Term
| central nervous system (CNS) |
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Definition
| the brain and spinal cord. |
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Term
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Definition
| the carotid and femoral pulses, which can be felt in the central part of the body. |
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Term
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Definition
| application of heat to the lateral chest, neck, armpits, and groin of a hypothermic patient. |
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Term
| cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) |
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Definition
| the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. |
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Term
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Definition
| in emergency medicine, the reason EMS was called, usually in the patient’s own words. |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| an injury to an extremity with no associated opening in the skin. |
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Term
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Definition
| an internal injury with no open pathway from the outside. |
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Term
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Definition
| area where the incident command post and support functions. |
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Term
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Definition
| similar to an ileostomy, a surgical opening in the wall of the abdomen with a bag in place to collect excretions from the digestive system. |
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Term
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Definition
| the first on the scene to establish order and initiate the Incident Command System. |
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Term
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Definition
| when the patient is developing shock but the body is still able to maintain perfusion. See shock. |
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Term
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Definition
| mild closed head injury without detectable damage to the brain. Complete recovery is usually expected. |
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Term
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Definition
| mild closed head injury without detectable damage to the brain. Complete recovery is usually expected. |
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Term
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Definition
| the transfer of heat from one material to another through direct contact. |
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Term
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Definition
| the obligation not to reveal information obtained about a patient except to other health-care professionals involved in the patient's care, or under subpoena, or in a court of law, or when the patient has signed a release of confidentiality. |
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Term
| congenital disease/condition |
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Definition
| a disease or condition that is present at birth. |
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Term
| congestive heart failure (CHF) |
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Definition
| the failure of the heart to pump efficiently, leading to excessive blood or fluids in the lungs, the body, or both. |
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Term
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Definition
| permission from the patient for care or other action by the EMT. See also expressed consent; implied consent. |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| contact with or presence of a material (contaminant) that is present where it does not belong and that is somehow harmful to persons, animals, or the environment; the introduction of dangerous chemicals, disease, or infectious materials. |
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Term
| continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) |
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Definition
| a device that exerts constant pressure through a tube and mask worn by a patient to keep airway passages from collapsing at the end of a breath. |
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Term
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Definition
| specific signs or circumstances under which it is not appropriate and may be harmful to administer a particular drug to a patient. |
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Term
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Definition
| a bruise; in brain injuries, a bruised brain caused when the force of a blow to the head is great enough to rupture blood vessels. |
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Term
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Definition
| carrying away of heat by currents of air or water or other gases or liquids. |
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Term
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Definition
| blood vessels that supply the muscle of the heart (myocardium). |
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Term
| coronary artery disease (CAD) |
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Definition
| diseases that affect the arteries of the heart. |
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Term
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Definition
| the bony structure making up the forehead, top, back, and upper sides of the skull. |
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Term
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Definition
| the grating sound or feeling of broken bones rubbing together; also called crepitus. |
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Term
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Definition
| the ring-shaped structure that circles the trachea at the lower edge of the larynx. |
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Term
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Definition
| pressure applied to the cricoid cartilage to suppress vomiting and bring the vocal cords into view. |
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Term
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Definition
| the location where a crime has been committed or any place that evidence relating to a crime may be found. |
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Term
| critical incident stress management (CISM) |
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Definition
| a comprehensive system that includes education and resources to both prevent stress and to deal with stress appropriately when it occurs. . |
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Term
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Definition
| an injury caused when force is transmitted from the body’s exterior to its internal structures. Bones can be broken, muscles, nerves, and tissues damaged, and internal organs ruptured, causing internal bleeding. |
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Term
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Definition
| a blue or gray color resulting from lack of oxygen in the body (see hypoxia). |
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