EMT Glossary page 1349 Flashcards
Tachycardia
A heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute.
Tachypnea
A breathing rate that is faster than the normal rate.
Tardive dyskinesia
A movement disorder that causes involuntary movements of the tongue, lips, face, trunk, and extremities.
Tarsals
The bones of the ankle, hindfoot, and midfoot (Mom hint: feet walk on tar).
Tenderness
Pain in response to palpation.
Tension pneumothorax
A condition in which the buildup of air and pressure within the thoracic cavity associated with an injured lung is so severe that it begins to shift the injured lung to the uninjured side, resulting in compression of the heart, large vessels, and the uninjured lung.
Terminally ill
The condition of an individual who has a disease process that is realistically expected to result in the death of the patient, despite medical treatment.
Tertiary effects
In an explosion, injuries produced by propulsion, for example when a person is propelled by a blast or shock wave and strikes the ground or other objects, resulting in blunt trauma.
Therapy regulator
A device that controls the flow and pressure of oxygen from the tank to allow for a consistent delivery of oxygen by liters per minute.
Thermoreceptor
A sensory receptor that is stimulated by temperature.
Thoracic spine
The 12 vertebrae directly below the cervical vertebrae that comprise the upper back.
Thorax
The chest, or that part of the body between the base of the neck and the diaphragm.
Thrombotic stroke
A type of ischemic stroke caused by a stationary clot that forms in and blocks a cerebral artery.
Thyroid cartilage
The bulky cartilage that forms the anterior portion of the larynx; also called the Adam’s apple.
Tibia
The medial, larger bone of the lower leg; the shinbone.
Tidal volume (Vr)
The amount of air breathed in and out in one normal respiration.
Tilt test
See orthostatic vital signs.
Toddler
A child 1-3 years of age.
Tonsil tip or tonsil sucker
Rigid suction catheter.
Tort
A wrongful act, injury, or damage; see also intentional tort.
Total downtime
The total time from when a patient goes into cardiac arrest until he is delivered to the emergency department; see also downtime.
Totally implantable venous access system (TIVAS)
See surgically implanted medical delivery device.
Toxicology
The study of toxins, antidotes, and the effects of toxins on the body.
Toxins
Drugs or substances that are poisonous to humans and will cause certain adverse effects that may ultimately lead to death. Toxin is sometimes considered a synonym to poison, sometimes defined more narrowly as a poisonous substance of plant or animal origin.
Trachea
The tubelike structure that leads from the larynx to the lungs.
Tracheostomy
A surgical opening in the trachea.
Tracheostomy tube
A hollow tube that is inserted into a tracheostomy to allow the patient to breathe.
Trajectory
The path of a projectile during its travel; a trajectory may be flat or curved.
Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
Brief, intermittent episode with stroke-like symptoms that typically disappear within minutes, but usually last no longer than 1 hour. TIAs are caused by an oxygen deficit in the brain tissue (ischemia) and are often a precursor to a stroke.
Transport unit
In a multiple-casualty incident, the unit that coordinates patient transportation with the triage an staging units. Its office communicates with the hospitals involved.
Transverse line
An imaginary line drawn horizontally through the waist.
Transverse plane
A plane that divides the body into superior and inferior segments; also called horizontal plane.
Trauma
Concerning injury.
Trauma patient
A patient who has a physical injury or wound caused by external force or violence.
Traumatic asphyxia
A severe and sudden compression of the thorax that causes a rapid increase in pressure within the chest that affects blood flow, ventilation, and oxygenation.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
An alteration in brain function, or other evidence of brain pathology, caused by an external force, such as concussion, whose signs and symptoms may emerge over time.
Treatment unit
In a multiple-casualty incident, the unit that is responsible for collecting and treating patients in a centralized treatment area.
Trendelenburg position
Lying on the back with the lower part of the body elevated higher than the head on an inclined plane.
Triage
The process of sorting patients to determine the order in which they will receive care of transportation to definitive care.
Triage tag
A tag containing key information that is attached to a patient during a multiple-casualty incident.
Triage unit
In a multiple-casualty incident, the unit that is responsible for prioritizing patients for emergency medical care and transport.
Tripod position
A position in which the patient sits upright, leans slightly forward, and supports the body with the arms in front and elbows locked. This is a position commonly found in respiratory distress.
Twisting force
A force that twists a bone while one end is held stationary.
Type 1 diabetes
A form of diabetes in which the patient’s pancreas typically does not produce or secrete any insulin. Also called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM); see also diabetes mellitus (DM).
Type 2 diabetes
A form of diabetes where the pancreas continues to produce and secrete insulin; however, the insulin is not completely effective in controlling the blood glucose level. Type 2 diabetes does not usually require the patient to take insulin and can, instead, be regulated by diet, exercise, and drugs other than insulin. Also called non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM); see also diabetes mellitus (DM).
Ulcers
Open wounds or sores within the digestive tract.
Ulna
The medial bone of the forearm.
Umbilical cord
An extension of the placenta through which the fetus receives nourishment while in the uterus.
Umbilicus
The navel.
Unwitnessed cardiac arrest
For the purposes of emergency medical services and provision of resuscitation and defibrillation, a cardiac arrest, with the patient already unresponsive, apneic, and pulseless, when EMS arrives on the scene.
Upper airway
The portion of the respiratory system that extends from the nose and mouth to the larynx.
Urban hypothermia
Hypothermia precipitated by cold environments such as with persons who live on the streets in cold weather or whose indoor environment is too cool.
Urgent move
A patient move made because there is an immediate threat to life because of the patient’s condition and the patient must be moved quickly for transport.
Urinary catheter
A device that is used to divert urine out of the bladder.
Urinary system
The organs and structure responsible for filtering and excreting wastes from the blood; also called the renal system.
Urology
Branch of medicine that studies the urinary system in females and the genitourinary system in males.
Uterus
An organ of the female reproductive system for containing and nourishing the embryo and fetus from the time the fertilized egg is implanted to the time of birth.
Vagina
The passageway through which the fetus is delivered. The lower part of the birth canal.
Valves
Structures within the heart and circulatory system that keep blood flowing in one direction and prevent backflow.
Vascular access device
A medical device that is used when a patient is in need of ongoing intravenous medications.
Vein
Vessel that carries blood toward the heart.
Venae cavae
The principal veins that carry deoxygenated blood to the heart; plural of vena cava. The superior vena cava carries blood from the upper body; the inferior vena cava carries blood from the lower body.
Venilation
The mechanical process by which air is moved in and out of the lungs, primarily caused by changes in pressure inside the chest.
Ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) ratio
The dynamic relationship between the amount of ventilation the alveoli receive and the amount of perfusion through the capillary surrounding the alveoli.
Ventral
Toward the front, or toward the anterior portion of the body; opposite of dorsal.
Ventral respiratory group (VRG)
Respiratory rhythm center located in the brainstem that has both inspiratory and expiratory neurons. It becomes active and stimulates accessory muscles when an increase in ventilatory effort is necessary.
Ventricles
The two lower chambers of the heart.
Ventricular assist device (VAD)
A medical device that is used to assist the pump function of one or both ventricles, most commonly the left ventricle.
Ventricular fibrillation (VR or V-Fib)
A continuous, uncoordinated, chaotic rhythm that does not produce pulses.
Ventricular tachycardia (VT or V-Tach)
A very rapid heart rhythm that may or may not produce a pulse and is generally too fast to adequately perfuse the body’s organs.
