Vocabulary Flashcards
Pulmonary edema
accumulation of fluid in the lungs
Cardiac Tamponade
fluid accumulates within the peripheral sac and compresses the heart.
Perfusion
adequate circulation of oxygenated blood throughout the body.
Vasodilation
the dilatation of blood vessels, which decreases blood pressure.
Hypotension
Low blood pressure
Hemorrhage
Bleeding
Hypoperfusion
shock or low tissue perfusion
Hypovolemia
Low blood volume
Hypoxia
inadequate oxygen supply to the body’s tissue and cells
Hyperglycemia
High blood glucose level
Hyperventilating
Excessive rate or volume of ventilation
Hypoventilation
Slow or shallow ventilations
Incision
Sharp, clean cut
Infarction
Death to an area of the body’s tissues
Inflammation
Swelling
Inhalation
Active part of breathing
Ischemia
Poor blood supply
Jaundice
Yellowish skin color
Joint
the point where two bones are joined
Kidney failure
inability of the kidneys to regulate fluid level and eliminate waste
Kidney stones
solid crystals that form in the kidney
Laceration
Jagged cut
Liagment
Connects bone to bone
Miosis
Constricted pupils
Mottled
Blotched skin coloring
Neonate
Newborn
Abrasion
A scraping injury to the surface of the skin
Absence seizure
Starring, a brief loss in consciousness no change in motor activity
Acute
Rapid onset
Amputation
Injury resulting in a body part completely severed off
Aneurysm
weakening in the wall of an artery
Apnea
absence of spontaneous breaths
Aspiration
material, such as vomit, entering the lungs
Asthma
acute bronchoconstriction combined with increased mucus production
Aura
a sensation of an impending seizure
Avulsion
Injury resulting in an area of the skin torn loose or hanging from a flap
Battle signs
Bruising behind the ears, indicative of a basilar skull fracture
Blunt trauma
Trauma that doesn’t penetrate the body
Bradycardia
Slow pulse rate
Bradypnea
Slow respiratory rate
Bronchoconstriction
tightening (constriction) of the airways.
Bruise
A discoloration of the skin due to blood seeping into the underlying blood vessels
Referred pain
pain in an area of the body other than the source
Abduction
Movement away from the midline, or move apart
Afterload
The pressure the heart must overcome during ventricular contraction
Abruptio placenta
The premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall
Absorption
Passage of material through the intestine into the bloodstream
Acidosis
An abnormally high level of acidity in the body’s fluids and tissues
Acute abdomen
Abdominal emergency that typically refers surgery
Acute Coronary syndrome
Symptoms caused by myocardial ischemia, such as angina or myocardial infarction
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI)
Death to myocardial muscle. Also called heart attack
Adduction
To move toward the midline, or bring together
Aerobic metabolism
Energy production with oxygen
Afterload
The pressure the heart must overcome during ventricular contraction
Agonal respirations
Dying gasps
Agonist
A medication that stimulates a response
Allergen
Antigen that causes an allergic reaction
Allergic reaction
Hypersensitive immune response to an allergen
Alveoli
Air sacs in the lungs that exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide with the pulmonary capillaries
Anaerobic metabolism
Energy production without oxygen
Anaphylactic shock
Severe, life threatening allergic reaction. Also called anaphylaxis
Anatomic position
Standing, facing forward, arms at the sides, palms out
Angina pectoris
Temporary chest pain occurs when myocardial oxygen demand exceeds supply
Antagonist
A medication that inhibits a response
Anterior
Toward the front. Also known as ventral in humans
Anterograde amnesia
Unable to remember events prior to the injury
Antibodies
Produced by body’s immune system to defend against an antigen
Antigen
Foreign substance that stimulates an immune response
Aorta
Artery that carries blood out of the left heart
Appendicitis
Inflammation of the appendix
Appendix
Pouch connected to the large intestine in the right lower abdominal quadrant
Atherosclerosis
Plaque build up within the blood vessel
Atrium
Upper chamber of the heart
Bilateral
Both sides
Biological agents
Bacteria, virus, or fungus that can be used as a weapon and has the potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety
Birth canal
The vagina and the cervix
Blistering agents
See vesicants
Blood agent
See cyanide
Bloody show
Passage of the mucus plug from the cervix as it begins to dilate
Brachial pulse
Palpable pulse in the upper arm
Breech birth
The presentation of the buttocks as the presenting part in the birth canal
Breech of duty
Failure to preform an ethical or legally required act established by the standard of care
Bronchitis
Inflammation of the lungs, either chronic or acute
Cardiogenic shock
Decreased cardiac output due to poor cardiac function or mechanical obstruction
Carotid pulse
Palpable pulse in the neck
Causation
Relationship between cause and effect
Cavitation
Pressure wave caused by high Velocity projectile
Cellular respiration
Aerobic metabolism
Central nervous system (CNS)
The brain and spinal cord
Cerebral contusion
Bruising of the brain
Cervix
The portion of the uterus that opens into the vagina
Cerebrospinal fluid
Fluid that circulates through the central nervous system
Choking agents
See pulmonary agents
Cholecystitis
Inflammation of the gall bladder
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
chronic disease processes caused by obstruction of the lower airways
Chronic
Always present
Clavicle
Collarbone
Coccyx
The tailbone
Compensated shock
Early shock, during which the body is able to compensate
Complex access
Patient access that requires tools or special training
Concussion
Head injury resulting in temporary alteration of brain function
Conduction
Direct transfer of heat through contact with a colder structure
Congestive heart failure
Caused by ineffective ventricular function leading to fluid backup
Constrict
Narrowing, to make smaller
Continous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
Technique of assisting ventilations in a patient with respirator distress
Contraindication
Situations when a certain intervention should not be performed
Contusion
Bruise
Convection
loss of heat to passing air
Coronary arteries
Arteries that perfume the heart muscle
Croup-contrecoup injury
Brain injury on the opposite side of impact
Cravat
See triangular bandage
Crepitus
The sound or sensation of bone ends rubbing together
Cricoid
See sellick maneuver
Croup
Inflammation of the upper airway and trachea
Crowning
The appearance of the baby’s head in the birth canal
Crush injury
Open or closed injury caused by tremendous force applied to the body
Cyanosis
Bluish color to the skin, lips, mouth, or nail beds indicating a lack of oxygen
Decompensated shock
Late shock, during which the body is no longer able to compensate and blood pressure begins to fall
Dehydration
Loss of enough body fluid to threaten homeostasis
Dependent edema
Fluid back-up in area of the body closest to the ground
Dependent lividity
The setting of blood within the body
Dermis
The lower layer of the skin beneath the epidermis
Diabetes
A disease process in which the body is unable to metabolize glucose normally
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
A diabetic emergency caused by severe hyperglycemia and acidosis
Dialysis
A procedure that assist the kidneys in removal of toxins from the blood
Diaphragm
Primary muscle of respiration that separates the chest and abdominal cavities
Diffusion
Movement from area of high to low concentration