Definitions Flashcards
Shock
Failure of the cardiovascular system to circulate enough blood and oxygen to vital organs
AED
Automated External Defibrilator
Automatically diagnoses and treats dangerous heart rhythms
Cancer
Cells in part of the body begin to grow out of control and replace normal tissue
Haemophilia
Genetic condition whereby blood doesn’t clot properly
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Joint tissue is attacked by immune system
Acute Illness
Starts suddenly
Short Lived - quick recovery
Chronic Illness
Long-term
Symptoms can appear gradually and get worse despite treatment
Penetrating Injury
Break in the skin or other body surface (e.g. eye)
Blunt Injury
Damage has occurred without a break in skin or other body surface
Anti-Coagulant Drug
Drug that makes blood less prone to clotting
Inflammatory Response (4)
Occurs when tissues are damaged
Blood vessels leak fluid into tissues (swelling)
Helps to isolate harmful substance
Attract white blood cells
Fever
Body’s temperature is above normal level (37°c)
Rigor
Uncontrollable, violent shivering occurring with especially high fever
Antibiotics
Medicines used to treat bacterial illnesses
Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS)
A form of child abuse
Forceable, violent shaking causing severe brain damage
Pre-eclampsia
Serious condition causing high blood pressure and damage to organs in expectant or new mothers
Enzymes
Substances that allow cells to carry out chemical reactions
Benign Tumour
Tumour has not spread to another part of the body
May not need treatment
Malignant Tumor
Tumour spreads to another part of the body
Chemotherapy
Drug treatment used to kill cancer cells or stop them spreading
Radiotherapy
Use of x-rays to destroy cancer cells
Cardiovascular System
Heart, blood and blood vessels
3 Types of Blood Vessels
Arteries
Veins
Capillaries
Arteries
Blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart
Veins
Blood vessels that carry blood towards the heart
Compensation (in relation to blood)
The diversion of blood away from the skin to major organs to make up lost blood
Blood Pressure
Force of blood against artery walls
Systolic Blood Pressure
Blood pressure as the heart beats
Diastolic Blood Pressure
Blood pressure as the heart relaxes between beats
Pulse
Heart rate detectable through contractions of the artery
Heart Palpitations
Heart beating irregularly
More rapid or forceful
Slower or differently from normal
Angina
Lack of oxygen to the heart due to poor blood flow
Heat Attack
Blood supply to part of the heart is lost
Aneurysm
A bulging weakened area in an artery wall
AAA
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Aneurysm affecting the abdominal section of the aorta
Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm
Aneurysm affecting the thoracic section of the aorta
Higher up in the chest
Atherosclerosis
Weakening in the walls of arteries due to fatty deposits
Nervous System
Controls the processes of the body
Central Nervous System
Brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System
Nerves connecting CNS to rest of the body
Fit / Seizure / Convulsion
A disturbance of the brain’s electrical activity causing involuntary muscle spasms
Faint
Reduction of blood flow to the brain causing a sudden, temporary loss of consciousness
Meningitis
Meninges (coating of brain and spinal cord) become inflammed
Sepsis
Blood poisoning caused by bacterial infection
Severe Illness
An illness which prevents and individual thinking about of doing anything else
Stroke
Blood supply to a part of the brain is interrupted
Head Injury
Any injury to the head, other than minor injuries to the face
Asthma
Inflammation and narrowing of the airways
Haemothorax
Blood collecting in pleural cavity
COPD
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Damage and inflammation to the lung usually caused by smoking (or other pollution) or severe asthma
Stoma
Surgically created opening of bowel or urinary tract onto the abdomen to collect waste
Lymph Nodes
Pea-sized filters found along lymph vessels which filter and destroy toxins and germs
Anaphylaxis
Sudden, severe allergic reaction
Hypothyroidism
Underactive thyroid - too little thyroxine
Hyperthyroidism
Overactive thyroid - too much thyroxine
Diabetes
Body’s inability to control glucose levels in the blood
Type 1 Diabetes
Pancreas produces little or no insulin
Insulin
Hormone controlling glucose levels in the blood.
Moves glucose from blood to cells for energy
Type 2 Diabetes
Body is resistant to insulin
Hypoglycaemia
Low blood sugar
Hyperglycaemia
High blood sugar
Adrenal Insufficiency/Addisons Disease
Lack of cortisol and aldosterone hormones, leading to weakened immune system
Adrenal Crisis
Life threatening drop in blood pressure caused by adrenal insufficiency
Ectopic Pregnancy
Fertilised egg implants and begins to grow outside the womb
GUM Clinic
Genitourinary Medicine Clinic
Abrasion
Graze - Top layer of skin scraped off
Incision
Break to skin caused by sharp cutting instruments
Laceration
Break to skin caused by blunt object - Torn skin, rather than cut
Amputation
Severing of body part
Superficial Burn
Burn involving only the top layer of skin (epidermis)
Partial Thickness Burn
Burn damaging tissues underneath epidermis, causing blistering
Full Thickness Burn
Burn causing all layers of skin to be damaged
Sinusitis
Inflammation of the sinuses usually caused by infection
Cirrhosis
Scarring of the liver
Psychosis
Loss of touch with reality which often includes changes in perception
Puerperal Psychosis
A serious mental health disorder affecting new mothers whereby mother experiences severe psychotic symptoms, often centring around the baby
Pulmonary Embolus
A blood clot in the lung
Thrombosis
Blood clot
