McCall 2021 EMS Exam 2 Review

Foundational EMS vocabulary and assessment concepts based on the McCall 2021 Exam 2 Study Guide, covering pathophysiology, medical terminology, and patient assessment.

Capnography

A tool that measures the concentration of exhaled carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) to assess ventilation.

Beta-blockers

Medications such as atenolol, metoprolol, or propranolol that can conceal the first sign of shock (tachycardia) by preventing the heart rate from increasing.

AVPU Scale

A mnemonic used to determine a patient's level of consciousness: Alert, Verbal, Pain, and Unresponsive.

Pertinent Negative

A sign or symptom that is expected to be present based on the patient's chief complaint but is found to be absent during the assessment.

Systolic Pressure

The blood pressure reading that represents what is happening in the body when the heart's ventricles contract.

Diastolic Pressure

The blood pressure reading that represents what is happening in the body when the heart is at rest and refilling.

Perfusion

The delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the cells and the removal of waste products via the blood.

Respiration

The chemical process of gas exchange at the alveolar or cellular level.

Ventilation

The mechanical process of moving air into and out of the lungs.

Circulation

The continuous movement of blood through the heart and blood vessels.

V/Q Ratio

The ventilation-perfusion ratio, where 'V' stands for ventilation and 'Q' stands for perfusion; this is most often a concern in medical emergencies like a pulmonary embolism.

Abandonment

Ending patient care without ensuring the patient has been turned over to medical personnel with equal or higher training.

Supine

The medical term for a patient lying flat on his or her back.

Prone

The medical term for a patient lying face down.

Lateral Recumbent

The medical term for a patient lying on his or her side, also known as the recovery position.

Inferior/Superior

Directional terms where inferior means below and superior means above as it relates to anatomic position.

Medial/Lateral

Directional terms where medial means toward the midline and lateral means away from the midline.

Distal/Proximal

Directional terms used for extremities; distal is further from the trunk, while proximal is closer to the trunk.

Unilateral/Bilateral

Unilateral refers to one side of the body, while bilateral refers to both sides.

Dorsal/Ventral

Anatomic planes where dorsal refers to the back or posterior and ventral refers to the front or anterior.

Infant Airway Susceptibility

Infants are susceptible to severe breathing problems from congestion because they are primarily nose breathers and have narrower upper airways.

Closed-loop Communication

A communication technique where the receiver repeats the message back to the sender to confirm it was heard and understood correctly.

Jaw-thrust Maneuver

A technique used to manually open the airway specifically when a spinal injury is suspected.

Primary Assessment

An assessment with the purpose of identifying and managing immediate life-threatening conditions involving the Airway, Breathing, and Circulation (ABCs).

Myocardial Infarction

The formal medical term for a heart attack, which occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked, causing tissue death.

Hypovolemic Shock

A type of shock caused by an inadequate amount of fluid or blood in the system leading to hypotension.

Distributive Shock

A type of shock caused by widespread vasodilation (enlargement of the blood vessels) leading to hypotension.

Decompensated Shock

The stage of shock where the body's compensatory mechanisms (like increased heart rate) fail and blood pressure begins to decline.