EMT Glossary page 1341 Flashcards
Crowning
The stage in delivery when the fetal head presents at the vagina.
Crush injury
An open or closed injury in which high-pressure forces cause serious damage to underlying soft tissues with internal bleeding, resulting in possible hemorrhagic shock.
Culture
The thoughts, communications, actions, and values of a racial, ethnic, religious, or social group.
Cushing reflex
A protective reflex by the body to maintain perfusion of the brain in a head-injured patient with increased intracranial pressure. The systolic blood pressure increases, heart rate decreases, and the respiratory pattern changes. This syndrome indicates sever head injury.
Cyanide
A rapid-acting agent that disrupts the ability of the cell to use oxygen, leading to severe cellular hypoxia and eventual death.
Cyanosis
A blue-gray color of the mucous membranes and/or skin, which indicates inadequate oxygenation or poor perfusion.
Dead air space (Vd)
Anatomical areas in the respiratory tract (outside the alveoli) where air collects during inhalation but no gas exchange occurs.
Decerebrate posturing
See extension posturing.
Decoder
Device that recognizes and responds to only certain codes imposed on radio broadcasts.
Decoding
Process by which a received message is translated and interpreted.
Decompensated respiratory failure
When the respiratory compensatory mechanisms have begun to fail and respiration becomes inadequate.
Decompensatory shock
An advanced stage of shock in which the body’s compensatory mechanisms are no longer able to maintain a blood pressure and perfusion of the vital organs. Also called decompensated shock or progressive shock.
Decorticate posturing
See flexion posturing.
Defamation
An intentional false communication that injures another person’s reputation or good name.
Defense mechanisms
Psychological coping strategies individuals use to protect themselves from unwanted feelings or thoughts.
Defibrillation
Electrical shock or current delivered to the heart through the patient’s chest wall or internally from an implanted device to help the heart restore a normal rhythm.
Defusing
A session held prior to a critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) for emergency service personnel most directly involved to provide an opportunity to vent emotions and get information before the CISD.
Delirium
Sudden-onset altered mental status that may involve illusions, disjointed though processes, incoherent speech, and increased or decreased psychomotor activity.
Dementia
Chronic condition resulting in the malfunctioning of normal cerebral processes.
Deoxygenated
Containing low amounts of oxygen, as with venous blood.
Deoxyhemoglobin
Hemoglobin that does not have any oxygen molecules attached to it.
Depression
One of the most common psychiatric conditions, one characterized by deep feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and discouragement that often do not seem connected to the actual circumstances of the patient’s life.
Dermis
The second layer of the skin; see also epidermis, subcutaneous layer.
Diabetes mellitus (DM)
A disease in which the normal relationship between glucose and insulin is altered. See also type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
A condition typically found in type 1 diabetics where the blood glucose level is excessively elevated and insulin level is extremely low to absent, which causes glucose to be excreted in the urine, dehydrating the patient, and causes the body to metabolize fat for energy, producing ketones and creating an acidic environment.
Diabetic retinopathy
Damage to the small blood vessels of the eye from the long-term effects of diabetes mellitus.
Dialysate
A special fluid used for dialysis.
Dialysis
An artificial process used to remove water and waste substances from the blood when the kidneys fail to function properly.
Dialysis shunt
A joining of arterial and venous systems in such a way that the repeated needlesticks required for dialysis cause a minimal amount of damage to the patient’s body.
Diaphragm
The major muscle of respiration that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity.
Diastolic blood pressure
The pressure exerted against the walls of the arteries when the left ventricle is at rest; see also systolic blood pressure.
Digestive system
The structures and organs that ingest and carry food so that absorption and waste elimination can occur.
Dilated
Expanded, made large.
Diplopia
Double vision
Direct force
Direct blow; injuries from direct force occur at the point of impact.
Disaster
A sudden catastrophic event that overwhelms natural order and causes great loss of property and/or life.
Disinfecting
In addition to cleaning, this process involves using a disinfectant such as alcohol or bleach to kill many of the microorganisms that may be present on the surface of an object.
Disk
Fluid-filled pad of cartilage between two vertebrae.
Dissipation of energy
The way energy is transferred to the human body by the forces acting upon it.
Distal
Distant, or far from the point of reference; opposite of proximal.
Distributive shock
Shock associated with a decrease in intravascular volume caused by massive systemic vasodilation and an increase in the capillary permeability.
Do not resuscitate (DNR) order
A legal document, usually signed by the patient and his physician, that indicates to medical personnel which, if any, life-sustaining measure should be taken when the patient’s heart and respiratory functions have ceased.
Dorsal
Toward the back or spine; opposite of ventral.
Dorsal respiratory group (DRG)
Respiratory rhythm center located in the brainstem that controls the rate and depth of normal quiet respiration.
Dorsalis pedis artery
An artery of the foot, which can be felt on the top surface of the foot.
Dose
The amount of a medication that is given to a patient at one time; for example, a dose of nitroglycerin may be one tablet and a dose of epinephrine may be the contents of one auto-injector.
Downtime
The time from when the patient goes into cardiac arrest until CPR is effectively being performed; see also total downtime.
Drag
The factors that slow a projectile.
Dressing
A sterile covering for an open wound that aids in the control of bleeding and prevention of further damage and contamination.
Drowning
An incident in which someone is submerged or immersed in a liquid that prevents the person from breathing air and that results in a primary respiratory impairment, whether the person lives or dies after this process.
Drug
A chemical substance that is used to treat or prevent a disease or condition.
Drug abuse
Self-administration of drugs (or a single drug) in a manner that is not in accord with approved medical or social patterns.
Drug toxicity
An adverse or toxic reaction to a drug or drugs.
Dura mater
Outer layer of protective brain tissue (meninges).
Durable power of attorney
A legal document that designates a person who is legally empowered to make health care decisions for the signer of the document if he is unable to do it himself; also called a health care proxy.
Duty to act
The obligation to care for a patient who requires it.
Dysarthria
Defective speech caused by impairment of the tongue or other muscles necessary for speech.
Dysbarism
A medical condition that results from pressure changes that occur when a person descends in water or ascends in altitude.
Dysmenorrhea
Severe pain or cramps during menstruation.
Dyspnea
Shortness of breath or perceived difficulty in breathing.
Dysrhythmias
Irregular contractions of the myocardium secondary to electrical disturbances in the heart.
Dystonia
A movement disorder that causes involuntary contractions of muscles resulting in twisting and repetitive movements that are sometimes painful.
Early respiratory distress
Increased respiratory effort caused by impaired respiratory function.
Ecchymosis
Black and blue discoloration.
Edema
Swelling caused by fluid accumulating in the tissues.
Elder abuse
Neglect or physical, sexual, financial, or emotional/mental mistreatment of an elderly person.
Embolic stroke
A type of ischemic stroke caused by plaque or other material that lodges in and blocks a cerebral artery.
Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)
The level of EMS practitioner who is likely to be the first person on the scene with emergency care training.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
The level of EMS practitioner who provides basic emergency medical care and transportation to patients who access the EMS system including oxygen therapy and ventilation equipment, pulse oximetry, use of automatic blood pressure monitoring equipment, and limited medication administration.
Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA)
A federal regulation that ensures the public’s access to emergency health care regardless of ability to pay. Also known as the “anti-patient-dumping statute,” forbidding turning a patient away at the door or sending him to a public hospital because of inability to pay.
