Chapter 16 Terms

Question 1

Anaphylaxis

Answer 1

A form of distributive shock caused by an often sudden severe allergic reaction, in which air passages may swell and restrict breathing.
AKA anaphylactic shock.

Question 2

Antivenin

Answer 2

A substance used to counteract the poisonous effects of venom.

Question 3

Arterial gas embolism

Answer 3

A condition in which air bubbles enter the bloodstream and subsequently travel to the brain.
Results from a rapid ascent from deep water, which expands air in the lungs too quickly.

Question 4

Barotrauma

Answer 4

Injury sustained because of pressure differences between areas of the body and the surrounding environment.
Most commonly occurs in air travel and scuba diving.

Question 5

Conduction

Answer 5

One of the ways the body loses or gains heat.

Occurs when the skin is in contact with something with a lower or higher temperature.

Question 6

Convection

Answer 6

One of the ways the body loses or gains heat.

Occurs when air moves over the skin and carries away or increases heat.

Question 7

Core temperature

Answer 7

The temperature inside the body.

Question 8

Decompression sickness

Answer 8

A sometimes fatal disorder caused by the release of has bubbles into body tissue.
AKA the bends.
Occurs when scuba divers ascend too rapidly, without allowing sufficient time for gases to exit body tissues and be removed through exhalation.

Question 9

Dehydration

Answer 9

Inadequate fluids in the body’s tissues.

Question 10

Drowning

Answer 10

An event in which a victim experiences respiratory impariment due to submersion in water.
May or may not result in death.

Question 11

Electrolytes

Answer 11

Substances that are electrically conductive in solution and are essential to the regulation of nerve and muscle function and fluid balance through the body.
Include sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, and phosphate.

Question 12

Evaporation

Answer 12

One of the ways the body loses heat.

Occurs when the body is wet and the moisture evaporates, cooling the skin.

Question 13

Free diving

Answer 13

An extreme sport in which divers compete under water without any underwater breathing apparatus.

Question 14

Frostbite

Answer 14

A condition in which body tissues freeze.

Most commonly found in fingers, toes, ears, and nose.

Question 15

Heat cramps

Answer 15

A form of heat-related illness, painful involuntary muscle spasms that occur during or after physical exertion in high heat, caused by loss of electrolytes and water from perspiration.
May be a sign that a more serious heat-related illness is developing.
Usually affects the legs and abdomen.

Question 16

Heat exhaustion

Answer 16

More severe form of heat-related illness.
Results when fluid and electrolytes are lost through perspiration and are not replaced by other fluids. Often results from strenuous work or wearing too much clothing in a hot, humid environment.

Question 17

Heat index

Answer 17

An index that combines the air temperature and relative humidity to determine the perceived, human-felt temperature.
A measure of how hot it feels.

Question 18

Heat stroke

Answer 18

The most serious form of heat-related illness.

Life-threatening and develops when the body’s cooling mechanisms are overwhelmed and body systems begin to fail.

Question 19

Hyperthermia

Answer 19

Overheating of the body.

Includes heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.

Question 20

Hypothalamus

Answer 20

Control center of the body’s temperature, located in the brain.

Question 21

Hypothermia

Answer 21

The state of the body being cooler than the usual core temperature, caused by either excessive loss of body heat and/or the body’s inability to produce heat.

Question 22

Metabolism

Answer 22

The physical and chemical processes of converting oxygen and food into energy within the body.

Question 23

Rabies

Answer 23

An infectious viral disease that affects the nervous system of human and other mammals.
Has a high fatality rate if left untreated.

Question 24

Radiation

Answer 24

One of the ways the body loses heat.

Heat radiates out of the body, especially from the head and neck.

Question 25

Tetanus

Answer 25

An acute infectious disease caused by a bacterium that produces a powerful poison.
Can occur in puncture wounds, such as human and animal bites.
AKA lockjaw.