EMT Glossary page 1345 Flashcards
Multisystem trauma
Trauma in which more than one major body system is involved.
Musculoskeletal system
The system of bones and muscle plus connective tissue that provides support and protection to the body and permits motion.
Myxedema coma
A life-threatening late complication of hypothyroidism that may be precipitated by exposure to cold temperatures as well as to illness, infection, trauma, or certain drugs.
Narcotics
Central nervous system depressants that are derived from opium (opiates) or from synthetic opium (opioids).
Nasal airway
A nasopharyngeal airway.
Nasal bones
The bones that form the bed of the nose.
Nasal cannula
An oxygen delivery device that consists of two prongs that are inserted into the nose of the patient. The oxygen concentration delivered is from 24-44%.
Nasopharyngeal airway
A curved, hollow rubber tube with a flange or flare at the top end and a bevel at the distal end that is inserted into the nose. It fits in the nasopharynx and extends into the pharynx providing a passage for air.
Nasopharynx
The portion of the pharynx that extends from the nostrils to the soft palate.
National Incident Management System (NIMS)
A system administered by the US Secretary of Homeland Security to provide a consistent approach to disaster management by all local, state, and federal employees who respond to such incidents.
Nature of illness (NOI)
The type of medical condition or complaint a patient is suffering from.
Neglect
The provision of insufficient attention or respect to someone who has a claim to that attention.
Negligence
The act of deviating from an accepted standard of care through carelessness, inattention, disregard, inadvertence, or oversight, which results in further injury to the patient.
Neonate
A child from birth to 1 month of age.
Nerve agents
Agents that block the action of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the plasma of the blood, red blood cells, and nervous tissue. The most severe effects are those to the nervous tissue.
Nervous system
The body system including the brain, spinal cord, and nerves that controls the voluntary and involuntary activity of the human body.
Neurogenic hypotension
Condition associated with injury to the spinal cord that results in vasodilation and relative hypovolemia. Also called spinal-vascular shock or neurogenic shock; see also spinal shock.
Neurogenic shock
A type of distributive shock that results from massive vasodilation; also called vasogenic shock.
Neurological deficit
Any deficiency in the nervous system’s functioning, typically exhibited as a motor, sensory, or cognitive deficit.
Neuropathy
Any disease of the nerves. Peripheral neuropathy is a syndrome in which weakness, numbness, tingling, or other neuropathic symptoms are experienced in the extremities, especially the hands and feet.
Neutron radiation
A powerful and very damaging particle that penetrates several hundred meters of air and easily passes through the body. Its greatest threat to life occurs in close proximity to an active nuclear reactor or nuclear bomb ignition.
Nitroglycerin
Medication that dilates the blood vessels, increasing blood flow through the coronary arteries and decreasing the workload of the heart; often prescribed for patients with a history of chest pain.
Nocturnal enuresis
Involuntary bed-wetting at night.
Nonhemorrhagic hypovolemic shock
Shock caused by loss of fluid from the intravascular space with red blood cells and hemoglobin remaining within the vessels.
Nonrebreather mask
An oxygen delivery device that consists of a reservoir and one-way valve. It can deliver up to 95% to 98% oxygen to the patient.
Nontraumatic brain injury
A medical injury to the brain that is not caused by external trauma. Stroke is an example of a nontraumatic brain injury.
Nontraumatic fracture
A broken bone resulting from a disease that causes degeneration and dramatic weakening of the bone, making it prone to fracture; also called pathologic fracture.
Nonurgent move
A patient move made when no immediate threat to life exists.
Nuchal cord
An umbilical cord that is wrapped around the infant’s neck during the delivery.
Nuclear radiation
Energy released when an unstable atom breaks apart.
Obstetric
Having to do with pregnancy or childbirth.
Obstructive shock
A poor perfusion state resulting form a condition that obstructs forward blood flow.
Occluded
Closed or blocked, not patent, as an occluded airway.
Occlusive dressing
A dressing that can form an airtight seal over a wound.
Off-line medical direction
Medical policies, procedures, and practices that medical direction has established in written guidelines.
Olecranon
The part of the ulna that forms the bony prominence of the elbow.
Oncotic pressure
See plasma oncotic pressure.
On-line medical direction
Direct orders from a physician to a prehospital care provider given by radio or telephone.
Open injury
Any injury in which the skin is broken as a result of trauma.
Open pneumothorax
An open wound to the chest that allows air to enter the pleural space and cause lung collapse.
Open-ended questions
Questions that allow the patient to give a detailed response in his own words.
OPQRST
A mnemonic for remembering the questions to ask when assessing the patient’s chief complaint or major symptoms, such as pain onset, provocation/palliation, quality, radiation, severity, and time of the complaint.
Oral airway
An oropharyngeal airway.
Oral glucose
A form of sugar often given as a gel, by mouth, to raise the blood glucose level.
Orbits
The bony structures that surround the eyes; the eye sockets.
Oropharyngeal airway
A semicircular hard plastic device that is inserted in the mouth and holds the tongue away from the back of the pharynx.
Oropharynx
The central portion of the pharynx lying between the soft palate and the epiglottis with the mouth as the opening.
Orthopnea
Shortness of breath while lying flat.
Orthostatic vital signs
An increase in heart rate of 10-20 bpm and a decrease in systolic blood pressure of 10-20 mmHg when a patient moves from a supine to an upright or standing position; a position finding for orthostatic hypotension. Also called a tilt test.
Osteoporosis
A degenerative bone disorder associated with an accelerated loss of minerals, primarily calcium, from the bone.
Ostomy bag
A pouch or bag that is attached outside the body to collect feces that are removed from the body through an opening in the abdominal wall.
Ovaries
The female gonads or sex glands.
Overdose
An emergency that involves poisoning by drugs or alcohol.
Oxygen
A gaseous element required by the body’s tissues and cells to sustain life; often provided as a medication.
Oxygen humidifier
A container that is filled with sterile water and connected to the oxygen regulator to add moisture tot he dry oxygen prior to being delivered to the patient.
Oxygenated
Containing high amounts of oxygen, as with arterial blood.
Oxygenation
The form of respiration in which oxygen molecules moves across a membrane from an area of high oxygen concentration to an area of low oxygen concentration, as when oxygen moves out of a blood vessel into a cell ;the process by which the blood and the cells become saturated with oxygen.
Oxyhemoglobin
Hemoglobin that has at least one oxygen molecule attached to it.
Pallor
Pale or abnormally white skin color.
Palmar
Relates to the palm of the hand.
Palpation
Feeling, as for a pulse.
Pancreatitis
Inflammation of the pancreas.
Paradoxical movement
A section of the chest that moves in the opposite direction to the rest of the chest during the phases of respiration. Typically seen with a flail segment.
Paramedic
The level of EMS practitioner who provides the highest level of prehospital care, including advanced assessments and care, formation of a field impression, and invasive and drug interventions.
Paranoia
A highly exaggerated or unwarranted mistrust or suspiciousness of other persons or things.
Paraplegic
Paralyzed from the waist down.
Paresthesia
A prickling or tingling feeling that indicates some loss of sensation.
Parietal pain
Localized, intense, sharp, constant pain associated with irritation of the peritoneum; also called somatic pain.
Parietal pleura
The outermost pleural layer that adheres to the chest wall.
Partial rebreather mask
An oxygen delivery device similar to a non-rebreather mask but with a two-way valve that allows the patient to rebreathe about one-third of his exhaled air.
Partial-thickness burn
Burn that involves the epidermis and portions of the dermis; also called a second-degree burn.
Passive rewarming
The use of the patient’s own heat production and conservation mechanisms to rewarm him, for example, simply placing the patient in a warm environment and covering him with blankets.
