SCIWLM CHAPTER 7

Dyspnea

Breathing difficulty or stoppage of breathing, often associated with conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or pneumonia.

Artificial respiration

A technique used to assist or stimulate breathing in someone who has stopped breathing, which can include methods such as mouth-to-mouth resuscitation or the use of mechanical devices.

Cellular respiration

The process by which cells break down glucose with oxygen to store energy as ATP, consisting of three main stages: glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain.

ATP (Adenine Triphosphate)

The energy currency of the cell used for various cellular functions, including metabolism, muscle contraction, and active transport across cell membranes.

Glycolysis

The first stage of cellular respiration where glucose is broken down into pyruvate, producing a small amount of ATP and NADH in the process.

Electron Transport Chain

A series of protein complexes located in the inner mitochondrial membrane that transfer electrons from NADH and FADH2 to molecular oxygen, resulting in the generation of ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.

Algor Mortis

The post-mortem cooling of the body as it adjusts to the temperature of the environment, typically occurring at a rate of about 1-1.5 degrees Fahrenheit per hour until the ambient temperature is reached.

Rigor Mortis

The post-mortem stiffening of the body’s muscles due to chemical changes, beginning several hours after death and lasting up to 72 hours as muscle fibers continue to break down.

Winslow's Test

A method of detecting stoppage of respiration using a reflected image on water, traditionally involving observing changes in the surface of water as a sign of breath cessation.

Magnus Test

A method of detecting heart action by observing blood flow in the finger after tying a ligature, which helps ascertain viability and circulation after cardiac arrest.