EMT Glossary page 1346 Flashcards
Patella
The kneecap.
Patent
Open; not closed, as a patent airway.
Patent airway
An airway that is open and clear of any obstructions.
Pathogens
Microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses that cause disease.
Patient assessment
Procedures performed to determine immediate life threats and injuries sustained or the condition of the patient, on which decision about emergency medical care and transport will be based.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Inflammation of the female reproductive tract.
Pelvis
The bones that form the floor of the abdominal cavity; the sacrum and coccyx of the spine, the iliac crests, the pubis, and the ischium.
Penetrating trauma
A force that pierces the skin and body tissues, for example, a knife or gunshot wound.
Penetration/puncture
An open injury caused by a sharp, pointed object being pushed into the soft tissues.
Perfusion
The delivery of oxygen and other nutrients tot he cells of all organ systems, which results from the constant adequate circulation of blood through the capillaries.
Pericardial tamponade
Blood or fluid filling the fibrous sac around the heart, causing compression of the heart and decreasing the ability of the ventricles to effectively fill and eject blood.
Perineum
The area of skin between a female’s vagina and anus.
Peripheral chemoreceptors
Receptors located in the aortic arch and the carotid bodies that are somewhat sensitive to CO2 and pH but are most sensitive to the level of oxygen in the arterial blood; see also chemoreceptors.
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
That portion of the nervous system location outside the brain and spinal cord.
Peripheral neuropathy
See neuropathy.
Peritoneal space
The anterior abdominal cavity that houses the majority of the abdominal organs and is lined by the peritoneum.
Peritoneum
The lining of the abdominal cavity.
Peritonitis
Irritation and inflammation of the abdominal lining.
Persistence
A characteristic of agents that do not evaporate quickly and tend to remain as a puddle for long periods of time.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Equipment work to protect against injury and disease.
Pertinent negatives
Signs or symptoms that might be expected in certain circumstances, based on the chief complaint or physical exam, but are denied by the patient or not found on examination.
Phalanges
Bones of the fingers, thumbs, and toes; plural of phalanx.
Pharmacology
The study of drugs.
Pharming
Raiding others’ home medicine supplies or using faked prescriptions to obtain drugs.
Pharynx
The throat, or passageway for air from the nasal cavity to the larynx and passageway for food from the mouth to the esophagus; the common passageway for the respiratory and digestive tracts.
Phobia
An irrational feat that often surrounds or is triggered by specific things, places, or situations.
Physical abuse
Improper or excessive action taken so as to injure or cause bodily harm.
Physician orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST)
Orders that identify the desired level of life-sustaining treatment in patients with a terminal or life-threatening illness who are not likely to survive.
Physiology
The study of the function of the living body and its parts.
Pia mater
Inner layer of protective brain tissue (meninges).
Placenta
The fetal organ through which the fetus exchanges nourishment and waste products during pregnancy.
Plantar
Refers to the sole of the foot.
Plasma
The liquid part of the blood.
Plasma oncotic pressure
The force created by the presences of large molecules that tends to keep fluid inside a capillary by exerting a “pull” effect; also called colloid oncotic pressure or oncotic pressure.
Platelets
Components of blood that are essential to the formation of blood clots.
Pleura
Two layers of connective tissue that surround the lungs.
Pleural space
A small space between the visceral and parietal pleura that is at negative pressure and filled with serous fluid.
Pneumonia
Infection of the lungs, usually from a bacterium or virus.
Pneumotaxic center
See pontine respiratory center.
Pneumothorax
Air in the pleural space causing collapse of the lung.
Pocket mask
A plastic mask placed over the patient’s nose and mouth through which ventilations can be delivered.
Poison
Any substance - liquid, solid, or gas - that impairs health or causes death by its chemical action when it enters the body or comes into contact with the skin.
Pontine respiratory center
Located in the pons of the brainstem, sends inhibitory impulses to the VRG1 (inspiratory neurons) to halt inspiration and permit exhalation; also known as the pneumotaxic center.
Positive pressure ventilation (PPV)
Method of aiding a patient whose breathing is inadequate by forcing air into his lungs.
Posterior
Toward the bad; opposite of anterior.
Posterior plane
The back or dorsal side of the body.
Posterior tibial artery
A major artery that travels from the calf to the foot and that can be felt on the medical surface of the ankle bone.
Postictal state
The recovery period that follows the clonic phase of a generalized seizure. In a postictal state the patient commonly appears weak, exhausted, confused, and disoriented and progressively improves.
Postmaturity syndrome
Condition that occurs during pregnancy when gestation of the fetus extends beyond 42 weeks, leading to reduced oxygen and nutrient delivery to the fetus; see also postterm pregnancy.
Postpartum
The period following delivery of the infant.
Postpartum hemorrhage
The loss of greater than 500 mL of blood following delivery of the infant.
Postterm pregnancy
Gestation of the fetus that extends beyond 42 weeks; see also postmaturity syndrome.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
A severe anxiety disorder caused when an individual is exposed to traumatic events that threaten actual or perceived immediate death, serious injury, or horrific trauma. The symptoms are frequently delayed and may occur years or decades after the traumatic event itself.
Power grip
Recommended gripping technique; the palm and fingers come in complete contact with the object and all fingers are bent at the same angle.
Power lift
Recommended technique for lifting. Feet are apart, knees bent, back and abdominal muscles tightened, back as straight as possible, lifting force driven through heels and arches, upper body rising before hips.
Precipitous delivery
Birth of the fetus after less than 3 hours of labor.
Prefix
A word part added to the beginning of a word to modify its meaning or to give additional or specific meaning to the word.
Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH)
In a pregnant woman, a blood pressure greater than 140/90 mmHg on two or more occasions at least 6 hours apart, or an increase from prepregnancy of greater than 30 mmHg in systolic pressure and greater than 15 mmHg in diastolic pressure.
Prehospital care
Emergency medical treatment given to patients before they are transported to a hospital or other facility; also called out-of-hospital care.
Prehospital care report (PCR)
Documentation of an EMT’s contact with a patient.
Preload
The pressure generated in the left ventricle at the end of diastole (resting phase of the cardiac cycle).
Premature infant
An infant weighing less than 5 pounds, or an infant born before its 38th week of gestation.
Premature rupture of membranes (PROM)
Spontaneous rupture of the amniotic sac prior to the onset of true labor and before the end of the 37th week of gestation.
Preschooler
A child 3-6 years of age.
Pressure regulator
A device that reduces the high pressure in an oxygen cylinder to a safe range, from 30-70 psi, and controls the flow of oxygen from 1-15 lpm.
Preterm labor
Labor that occurs after the 20th but prior to the 37th week of gestation; also called premature labor.
Priapism
A persistent erection of the penis resulting from injury to the spinal nerves to the genitals.
Primary assessment
Patient assessment conducted immediately after scene size-up to discover and treat immediately life-threatening conditions, determine whether the patient is injured or ill, and establish priorities for further assessment, care, and transport.
Primary effect
The blast of an explosion.
Primary exposure
Primary radiation that occurs during or shortly after a radioactive detonation.
Primary triage
Evaluation of patients that occurs immediately upon arrival of the first EMS crew at the actual site of the incident to quickly categorize the severity of a patient’s condition and priority for treatment and transport.
Profile
The size and shape of a bullet’s point of impact; the greater the point of impact the greater the injury.
Progressive shock
See decompensatory shock.
Prolapsed cord
When the umbilical cord, rather than the head of the fetus, is the first part to protrude from the vagina.
Prone
Lying face down.
Protocols
The policies and procedures for all components of an EMS system; also called orders or standing orders.
Proximal
Near the point of reference; opposite of distal.
