Vocabulary

Question 1

Abandonment

Answer 1

the act of discontinuing emergency care without ensuring that another health care professional with equivalent or better training will take over.

Question 2

Abdominal Aorta

Answer 2

the portion of the descending aorta that extends from the thoracic portion of the aorta to the distal point where the aorta divides into the iliac arteries. Arteries branching from the abdominal aorta supply the abdominal organs.

Question 3

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)

Answer 3

a weakened, ballooned, and enlarged area of the wall of the abdominal aorta.

Question 4

Abdominal Cavity

Answer 4

the space located below the diaphragm that extends to the top of the pelvis.

Question 5

Abdominal Evisceration

Answer 5

Abdominal organ protrusion through an open wound to the abdomen.

Question 6

Abdominal Quadrants

Answer 6

the four parts of the abdomen as divided by imaginary horizontal and vertical lines through the umbilicus.

Question 7

Abrasion

Answer 7

an open injury to the outermost layer of the skin (epidermis) caused by a scraping away, rubbing, or shearing away of the tissue.

Question 8

Abruptio Placentae

Answer 8

the premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall.

Question 9

acetabulum

Answer 9

the rounded cavity or socket on the external surface of the pelvis that receives the head of the femur.

Question 10

acetylcholine (ACh)

Answer 10

a neurotransmitter that is distributed throughout the body and is necessary for normal function of the parasympathetic nervous system.

Question 11

acetylcholinesterase (AChE)

Answer 11

an enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Nerve agents inhibit the action of this enzyme, allowing acetylcholine to accumulate.

Question 12

Acromion

Answer 12

the lateral triangular projection of the scapula that forms the point of the shoulder.

Question 13

Activated Charcoal

Answer 13

a distilled charcoal in powder form that can adsorb many times its weight in contaminants to prevent their adsorption by the body; no longer commonly administered in the emergency care of patients who have ingested a poison.

Question 14

Acute

Answer 14

With rapid onset

Question 15

Acute Abdomen

Answer 15

a sharp, severe abdominal pain with rapid onset.

Question 16

Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)

Answer 16

a group of s/s resulting from a variety of conditions that can affect the heart in which the coronary arteries are narrowed or occluded by fat deposits, clots, or spasm.

Question 17

Acute Renal Failure (ACF)

Answer 17

a rapid loss of renal function that results in poor urine production, electrolyte disturbance, and fluid balance disturbance.

Question 18

Administration

Answer 18

the route and form by which a drug is given.

Question 19

Advance Directive

Answer 19

instructions, written in advance, such as a DNR, living will, or durable power of attorney

Question 20

Advanced EMT

Answer 20

EMT with advanced airways, monitoring of blood glucose levels, intravenous and intraosseous infusions, and more meds.

Question 21

Aerobic Metabolism

Answer 21

chemical and physical changes that take place within the cells in the presence of oxygen.

Question 22

Afterbirth

Answer 22

the placenta and other tissues that are expelled after the delivery of the fetus.

Question 23

Afterload

Answer 23

the force of contraction that the left ventricle has to generate to overcome the resistance in the aorta to eject the blood.

Question 24

Agitated/Excited Delirium

Answer 24

a mental and physiologic state of arousal that is usually characterized by extreme strength and endurance, tolerance to pain, hostility, and hyperactive behavior; may result in sudden cardiac death.

Question 25

Agonal Respirations

Answer 25

gasping type respirations that have no pattern and occur very infrequently; a sign of impending cardiac arrest

Question 26

Air Embolism

Answer 26

an air bubble that enters the bloodstream and obstructs a blood vessel

Question 27

Airway Resistance

Answer 27

the restriction of airflow that is related to the diameter of the airways

Question 28

Alpha Radiation

Answer 28

a very heavy and slow-moving particle that travels only inches in air and is stopped by clothing or the outer layer of the skin. It is a very serious internal contaminant and can be ingested or inhaled.

Question 29

Alveolar Ventilation

Answer 29

the amount of inspired air that reaches the alveoli of the lungs

Question 30

Alveoli

Answer 30

Air sacs of the lungs

Question 31

Amniotic Sac

Answer 31

a thin, transparent membrane that forms the sac that holds the fetus suspended in amniotic fluid.

Question 32

Anaerobic Metabolism

Answer 32

chemical and physical changes that take place within the cells without the presence of oxygen.

Question 33

Antepartum

Answer 33

the period of pregnancy prior to the onset of labor

Question 34

Anterior chamber

Answer 34

the front of the chamber of the eye containing the aqueous humor.

Question 35

Anterior Cord Syndrome

Answer 35

loss of most function below the site of injury to the anterior portion of the spinal cord.

Question 36

Anterior plane

Answer 36

the front

Question 37

Anterograde Amnesia

Answer 37

inability to remember circumstances after an incident

Question 38

antibodies

Answer 38

special proteins produced by the immune system that search out antigens and combine with and help to destroy them.

Question 39

antidote

Answer 39

a substance that neutralizes the effect of a poison or a toxic substance.