Mod 4 Terms Flashcards
A simple joint where the bony projections of the scapula and the clavicle meet at the top of the shoulder.
acromioclavicular joint
An injury in which part of the body is completely severed.
Amputation
A pearly white layer of specialized cartilage covering the articular surfaces (contact surfaces on the ends) of bones in synovial joints.
Articulate cartilage
The heel bone.
Calcaneus
Any break in a bone in which the overlying skin is not broken.
Closed fracture
An elevation of pressure within a closed fascial compartment, characterized by extreme pain, decreased pain sensation, pain on stretching of affected muscles, and decreased power; frequently seen in fractures below the elbow or knee in children.
Compartment syndrome
A grating or grinding sensation or sound caused by fractured bone ends or joints rubbing together.
Crepitus
Disruption of a joint in which ligaments are damaged and the bone ends are no longer in contact.
Dislocation
A fracture in which bone fragments are separated from one another, producing deformity in the limb.
Displaced fracture
Bruising or discoloration associated with bleeding within or under the skin.
Ecchymosis
Movement that occurs in a bone at a point where there is no joint, indicating a fracture; also called free movement.
False motion
The fiberlike connective tissue that covers arteries, veins, tendons, and ligaments.
Fascia
The outer and smaller bone of the two bones of the lower leg.
Fibula
A break in the continuity of a bone.
Fracture
The place where two bones come into contact.
Joint
A simple crack in the bone that has not caused the bone to move from its normal anatomic position; also called a hairline fracture.
Nondisplaced fracture
Any break in a bone in which the overlying skin has been broken.
Open fracture
Tenderness that is sharply localized at the site of the injury, found by gently palpating along the bone with the tip of one finger.
Point tenderness
A hand position in which the wrist is slightly dorsiflexed and all finger joints are moderately flexed.
Position of function
To return a dislocated joint or fractured bone to its normal position; to set.
Reduce
The space between the abdominal cavity and the posterior abdominal wall, containing the kidneys, certain large vessels, and parts of the gastrointestinal tract.
Retroperitoneal space
The major nerve to the lower extremities; controls much of muscle function in the leg and sensation in most of the leg and foot.
Sciatic nerve
A bandage or material that helps to support the weight of an injured upper extremity.
Sling
A flexible or rigid device used to protect and maintain the position of an injured extremity.
Splint
A joint injury involving damage to supporting ligaments, and sometimes partial or temporary dislocation of bone ends.
Sprain
The larger of the two lower leg bones responsible for supporting the major weight-bearing surface of the knee and the ankle; the shinbone.
Tibia
A bandage that passes around the chest to secure an injured arm to the chest.
Swathe
The bleeding control method used when a wound continues to bleed despite the use of direct pressure and elevation; useful if a patient is bleeding severely from a partial or complete amputation.
Tourniquet
The area of potentially damaged soft tissue, adjacent nerves, and blood vessels surrounding an injury to a bone or a joint.
Zone of injury
Stretching or tearing of a muscle; also called a muscle pull.
Strain
An injury in which there is soft-tissue damage inside the body but the skin remains intact.
Closed abdominal injury
The region below the rib cage and above the hip.
Flank
Contracting the stomach muscles to minimize the pain of abdominal movement; a sign of peritonitis.
Guarding
Structures through which materials pass, such as the stomach, small intestines, large intestines, ureters, and urinary bladder.
Hollow organs
Black, tarry stool
Melena
An injury in which there is a break in the surface of the skin or mucous membrane, exposing deeper tissue to potential contamination.
Open abdominal injury
The abdominal cavity
Peritoneal cavity
Solid massess of tissue where much of the chemical work of the body takes place (eg, the liver, spleen, pancreas, and kidneys).
Solid organs
Compression of the heart as the result of buildup of blood or other fluid in the pericardial sac, leading to decreased cardiac output.
Pericardial tamponade
A blunt chest injury caused by a sudden, direct blow to the chest that occurs only during the critical portion of a person’s heartbeat.
Commotio cordis
A condition in which three or more ribs are fractured in two or more places or in association with a fracture of the sternum so that a segment of the chest wall is effectively detached from the rest of the thoracic cage.
Flail chest
A one-way valve that allows air to leave the chest cavity but not return; formed by taping three sides of an occlusive dressing to the chest wall, leaving the fourth side open as a valve; may also be part of a commercial vented occlusive dressing.
Flutter valve
The accumulation of blood and air in the pleural space of the chest.
Hemopneumothorax
The accumulation of blood and air in the pleural space of the chest.
Hemopneumothorax
A collection of blood in the pleural cavity.
Hemothorax
Bruising of the heart muscle.
Myocardial contusion
An injury to the chest in which the chest wall itself is penetrated by a fractured rib or, more frequently, by an external object such as a bullet or knife.
Open chest injury
An open or penetrating chest wall wound through which air passes during inspiration and expiration, creating a sucking sound; also referred to as a sucking chest wound.
Open pneumothorax
The fibrous sac that surrounds the heart.
Pericardium
An accumulation of air or gas in the pleural cavity.
Pneumothorax
Injury or bruising of lung tissue that results in hemorrhage.
Pulmonary contusion
Any pneumothorax that is free from significant physiologic changes and does not cause drastic changes in the vital signs of the patient.
Simple pneumothorax
A pneumothorax that occurs when a weak area on the lung ruptures in the absence of major injury, allowing air to leak into the pleural space.
Spontaneous pneumothorax
An open or penetrating chest wall wound through which air passes during inspiration and expiration, creating a sucking sound. See also open pneumothorax.
Sucking chest wound
A pattern of injuries seen after a severe force is applied to the chest, forcing blood from the great vessels back into the head and neck.
Traumatic asphyxia
Rapid respirations.
Tachypnea
Inability to remember events after an injury
Anterograde amnesia
Injuries in which load is applied along the vertical or longitudinal axis of the spine, which results in load being transmitted along the entire length of the vertebral column; for example, falling from a height and landing on the feet in an upright position.
Axial loading injuries
Usually occur following diffuse impact to the head (such as falls, MVC’s); generally result from extension of a linear fracture to the base of the skull and can be difficult to diagnose with a radiograph.
Basilar skull fractures
Bruising behind an ear over the mastoid process that may indicate a skull fracture.
Battle sign
Swelling of the brain.
Cerebral edema
Injury in which the brain has been injured but the skin has not been broken and there is no obvious bleeding.
Closed head injury
A temporary loss or alteration of part or all of the brain’s abilities to function without actual physical damage to the brain.
Concussion
Dual impacting of the brain into the skull; coup injury occurs at the point of impact; contrecoup injury occurs on the opposite side of impact, as the brain rebounds.
Coup-contrecoup injury
An accumulation of blood between the skull and the dura mater.
Epidural hematoma
A head position in which the patient’s eyes are looking straight ahead and the head and torso are in line.
Eyes forward position
The recommended procedure for moving a patient with a suspected spinal injury from the ground to a long backboard or other spinal immobilization device.
Four person log roll
The cushion that lies between two vertebrae.
Invertebral disk
Bleeding within the brain tissue (parenchyma) itself; also referred to as an intraparenchymal hematoma.
Intracerebral hematoma